[Fmpro] ASCAP - AMAZING SCAMMING COLLECTION AGENCY PROCEDURES

[Scott Szabo]

I have never had any success calling the member services line. I suggest you
contact some one at the TV dept. I also suggest that you call the production
company (or its distributor) and see if you can get an episode and
syndication number (preferably a cue sheet) for the show to submit to ASCAP.
Yes, it's a lot of work. Doing so means you have now opened a "Collections
Dept" for your business.

Scott Szabo
Szabo Sound & Music
2400 Central Parkway, Suite C
Houston, TX 77092
713-956-7451
www.szabosoundandmusic.com


-----Original Message-----
From: fmpro-bounces+scott=szabosoundandmusic.com at nxport.com
[mailto:fmpro-bounces+scott=szabosoundandmusic.com at nxport.com] On Behalf Of
Fernando Rivas
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 9:59 AM
To: fmpro at nxport.com
Subject: [Fmpro] ASCAP - AMAZING SCAMMING COLLECTION AGENCY PROCEDURES



On my last statement (Nov.06) from ASCAP I received a $38 payment which came
through ASCAP from SOCAN when an episode from the now defunct Rosie O'Donell
show was rebroadcast in Canada which contained a song I wrote for Gloria
Estefan.  On the episode Gloria Estefan was Rosie's guest and she
spontaneously sang, a capella, a verse and chorus of my song (Mambo I, I, I
from the Sesame St. CD Elmopalooza which had recently won a grammy) and got
Rosie and the audience to join in and sing along.

Here's the kicker:
I've never gotten a single penny for the United States showing of that
episode, whenever it aired. I wouldn't have even known about it if I hadn't
seen it. When I contacted ASCAP I was told I would need to obtain the
episode number in order to track down what happened or I can start an
inquiry which would take three years.  I was told I can't contact SOCAN
directly to find out more about the episode which obviously reran in Canada
and was accurately reported and when I asked how much money (ballpark
figure) we're talking about for US royalties on something like this the rep
on the phone had no clue and said no one else at ASCAP would know either.

I also asked for ballpark figures on a show, primetime Disney Channel, I'm
currently scoring, and was told it was impossible to figure it out.  So I
guess that's like saying - we'll pay you when we pay you - and that's IF we
frigging pay you.  I was also told that such information is secret for
members because it involves agreements made with licensees.

New acronyms for ASCAP:

ALWAYS SCREWING COMPOSERS AVOIDING PAYOUT
ACCOUNTING SECRECY CONFUSES ALL PARTIES

Fernando Rivas