Why Music Venues May Soon Sing The Legislature's Praises

Remember the squawking by music venues in 2007 when Oregon's Employment Department interpreted state law so that musicians were considered employees of the venues, thus putting the businesses on the hook for employment taxes.

The Legislature looks well on its way to undoing that interpretation.

A bill repealing the interpretation of the law has won unanimous approval from the Oregon House and is headed to the Senate where backers say its prospects are good. The law itself (ORS 657.506) was originally geared towards restaurants in which employees didn't claim their tips.