[Fmpro] Gross Amounts and Gross Abuse of Power

[Mark Northam]

Maybe this is why the PROs are so scared of digital watermarking done by a
third (verifiable, independent) party where composers could purchase reports
about the airplay of their works.

You're referring to the gross amounts of money due the writers -
watermarking would allow writers to see the gross amounts of the actual
number of performances of writers' works...

It all smells like one, big, corrupted system where the people in charge -
like the ASCAP Board of Directors - are more concerned about hiding things
(like their own attendance records) than operating an open, honest,
transparent system to distribute performing rights royalties. Decades-old
prejudices and discrimination against instrumental music continues for no
other reason than "that's the way we've always done it." Independent
candidates are wiped out to make sure the incumbents keep their jobs, and
the level of arrogance and secrecy continues to rise.

As I said before, if these guys aren't even willing to disclose their own
attendance records (I assume because some or many of them aren't showing up
for meetings and don't want ASCAP members to know about it), what else could
they be hiding? 

Is it wrong for us to expect some amount of basic accountability from these
people?

Best,

Mark Northam


On 11/8/06 6:03 AM, "Les Hurdle" <leshurdle101 at sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> I should add publishers are terrified of composers having any
> knowledge to gross amounts.... competition is the b/s excuse.
> Think about this... most statement are at least 12 months after the
> sale......... so how would old prices assist?

---------------------------------
Mark Northam - Publisher
Film Music Magazine
The Professional Voice of Music for Film & TV
http://www.filmmusicmag.com
1-800-774-3700 x702 / (310) 645-9000 x702