Happy Ending! Music is back at Du Quoin ice cream shop

Following an hour-long, heart-to-heart conversation Monday morning with Broadcast Music, Inc. of Nashville, Tenn. , the music copyright watchdog group has rescinded a $1,080 fine against Bob Bytnar of Ye Olde Country Store ice cream and fudge shop in Du Quoin.

The group, which serves the music industry, threatened the fine after amateur Du Quoin songster Riley Kirk sang a copyrighted song at the shop during a sidewalk performance Aug. 19. The Du Quoin Evening Call told the story in its Monday edition.

A BMI spokesman queried Bytnar about his business, the number of customers and his hosting of local talent to play at the shop. After the conversation, BMI and Bytnar agreed to a very modest annual licensing fee that lets him play the juke box over the outside speaker and host up to five local singers or groups a month. On Monday, the story and comments were all over Facebook, angering friends and customers who offered to take up a collection to pay the fine.