Only the real thing.

• Position: TRENDS AND TRANSITIONS - Brief article

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are cracking down on music group imposters by passing Truth in Music laws. The laws, which thus far have faced little opposition, emerged from the lobbying efforts of the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, an organization that honors great vocal groups of the world.

This kind of off-beat identity theft has gone on for more than 15 years. "I've seen too many consumers duped into paying for the real thing and ending up with fakes," says John Bauman, chairman of the Truth in Music Committee with the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and former member of Sha Na Na. "And too many artists are sitting at home wanting to perform while others steal their applause, their legacy and their jobs."

Though the laws may vary slightly from state to state, many are based on Pennsylvania's Truth in Music Advertising Act, the first such law enacted. It requires that a music group have at least one original band member in order to perform under the orginal group's name. Violators face fines from $5,000 to $15,000 plus restitution.

Senator Joe Heck co-introduced the Truth in Music bill in Nevada...