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Last week, Metro announced it would be holding auditions for its summer music program to take place at the entrances of various Metrorail stations between now and the end of the summer. But while playing for Metro passengers would be an opportunity for good exposure, not all musicians are comfortable with the transit agency’s ground rules for the performance series.

In a letter to Michael McBride, the director of Metro’s Art in Transit program, and D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, who sponsors a companion music program to Metro’s, the local-music boosters at Listen Local First say they feel Metro’s plans fall short in several areas.

For one thing, the auditions, which happen tonight at Metro’s headquarters between 5 and 7 p.m. and are being conducted on a first-come, first-served basis, were hastily arranged, giving potential participants little time to organize. The letter also takes issue with the apparent lack of a musically attuned selection committee that can grade submissions with objectivity.

But the real thrust of Listen Local First’s complaints, much like else in the music industry, comes down to compensation. As far as Metro’s regulations are concerned, there won’t be any. The transit agency, unlike its counterparts in other cities, has a tough prohibition on busking, and simply listing the names of the selected performers on a corner of its website simply isn’t enough, the letter argues. Passing the hat is verboten, as is selling records and merchandise.

“I don’t see the benefit of this event,” says one of several musicians whose objections were attached to the letter. “Selling merch and soliciting tips are usually an important supplement to a busking musicians livelihood. What’s the benefit of going to a ‘first come, first served’ audition that only lasts two hours and will strip performers of the possibility of collecting tips or selling merch?”

Metro, however, isn’t giving an inch. Cathy Asato, a spokeswoman for the transit agency, told the City Paper that the purpose of the music program is simply “to provide some entertainment at our station’s entrances” and that musicians shouldn’t expect the rules to change any time soon. “There’s been a longstanding rule that panhandling is not allowed in the system.”

Here’s the letter from Listen Local First:

Members of the local music community have raised some serious concerns about WMATA’s “Metro Performs” audition process happening this afternoon.
While we are all in agreement that the goals of this program are novel, the actual implementation falls short of achieving these goals and actually stands to hurt the plight of professional and amateur DC musicians. We at Listen Local First, in representing the broader DC music community, feel that tonight’s auditions should be tabled and the community’s concerns should be addressed before this series proceeds.

First, we are concerned about the time-frame and lack of notice given for this event. If the goal of this program is to exhibit the most talented and diverse musicians this city has to offer, WMATA must account for the busy schedules of many of these professionals and allow for more notice for submissions. Due to the short notice provided, we believe WMATA has not taken the schedule of some of these artists into consideration.
Second, we believe an audition is not the correct way to select musicians for this event. WMATA is dealing with professional musicians who have recorded content and have created an online presence (including video). A selection committee should be assembled and tasked with judging artists’ submissions on a list of objective qualifications.

Finally, if WMATA cannot afford to compensate musicians that participate in the program this year, then it should allow musicians to advertise their performance schedules, sell merchandise and collect tips from the public within the Metro. Simply advertising musicians on WMATA’s website, as proposed, is not enough compensation and discredits the hard work that these individuals have put into their profession.

Again, we admire the goal of this program which seeks to expose the diverse and talented music that our local artists are creating in our backyards. However, this program, as implemented, does not accomplish the intended goal. Listen Local First and members of the music community would be happy to schedule a time to meet with both of your offices and to set up a forum with local musicians in order to incorporate some of their suggestions into this unique programming opportunity.