SamboraBlog

Bon Jovi says take song, label says pay TRENTON, N.J., Jan. 6 (UPI) -- A "free" song offered to New Jersey tourism officials by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora could end up costing the state $250,000.

The Bon Jovi rockers told officials they could use the song "Who Says You Can't Go Home" off their new album gratis.

But the band's publisher and record label came back with a price tag of $175,000 for the rights to the song from Bon Jovi's latest album "Have a Nice Day," the East Brunswick (N.J.) Home Tribune reported. It is estimated that the state would have to spend about $75,000 on production expenses related to the song.

The New York Daily News quoted a source as saying the money sought by Island records is "not a lot."

"Coke pays millions to use a song in a commercial," the source told the News. "People should get paid for what they write. Jon and Richie are good Jersey boys. They've done so much charitable work for the state."

State officials were reportedly still mulling whether to add the expense to the annual budget.