A neighborhood hangout known for its pool tables, karaoke nights, live bands and cold beer has been ordered to pay more than $17,000 for copyright violations, according to court records.
Broadcast Music Inc. filed a complaint in late January against Pals Watering Hole on Harmony Road and its owners, Jessica Lamb and Ginger Adams. The civil lawsuit gave the defendants 60 days to respond.
According to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia in Macon, BMI licenses the right to publicly perform a repertoire of 22.4 million copyrighted musical compositions on behalf of the works’ copyright owners.
Performing copyrighted music in a public setting, such as a bar, is considered a public performance. Copyright law generally requires permission unless a blanket license is in place. A blanket license allows businesses to use an entire catalog of copyrighted music for a fixed fee rather than obtaining separate permission for each song, according to LSD Law.
Bars typically purchase an annual blanket license from a performing rights organization, or PRO, such as BMI. The PRO then distributes royalties to songwriters and music publishers.
In the lawsuit against Pals Watering Hole, BMI was joined by Beechwood Music Corp., Howe Sound Music Publishing LLC, EMI Blackwood Music Inc. and Peer International Corporation.
Since July 2024, BMI personnel telephoned Pals Watering Hole, Lamb and Adams 41 times and sent 27 emails and letters informing them of the need to obtain permission to publicly perform copyrighted music in BMI’s catalog, according to court records.
On May 9, 2025, BMI sent a representative to the bar to make audio recordings and prepare written reports documenting the public performance of music there.
Pals Watering Hole and Lamb and Adams did not respond to the lawsuit or appear in court. As a result, U.S. District Judge Tilman E. Self III sided with the plaintiffs in an order issued July 23, 2026.
The order requires Pals Watering Hole LLC, Lamb and Adams, jointly and severally, to pay $4,300 for each of the four musical compositions played on May 9, 2025, for a total of $17,200. The defendants are also required to pay BMI’s attorney fees.
The court order also permanently prohibits Pals Watering Hole, Lamb, Adams and anyone acting under their authority from infringing on copyrighted musical compositions licensed by BMI.
“Defendants Pals Watering Hole LLC, Jessica Lamb, and Ginger Adams and their agents, servants, employees and all persons acting under their permission or authority are permanently enjoined and restrained from infringing, in any manner, the copyrighted musical compositions licensed by Broadcast Music, Inc.,” the order states.