Jute Box music and Copyright issues, fees

Read an artical in the New York Times on BMI, the musical artist copy right and usage fee people. The artical indicated that club owners will say that none of our employees ever put $ in the jute box. Somehow that may reduce the licensing fees or something?

Couple of clubs I've been to solicate money from the customers for the jute box, a practice I found annoying and cheap, while I suspect this is still the primary motive of the club management, I wounder if there is any grounds that if the customers are putting in the $ that reduces the liability of the management?

I'm not that concerned about it, and its not going to keep me up at night wondering, but any thoughts?