[Fmpro] ASCAP - AMAZING SCAMMING COLLECTION AGENCY PROCEDURES

[Scott Szabo]

All I can tell you is that a well-intended (I presume) PA produced the cue
sheets (incorrectly) for a years worth shows I was the composer on. Nine
months later, I called ASCAP to ask why my royalties were so low. Weeks
later the improper paperwork was found to be the culprit. Folks like Charlyn
Bernal, Shawn LeMone, and Judith Bliss helped me to resolve the issue. It
took over a year working with the Production Co. and the Network but I
finally got all the money that belonged to me.

I had a vendor I hired that never sent me their invoice for work performed.
I called them TWICE asking for the paperwork so that I may PAY THEM and they
STILL didn't send an invoice. If they don't send in the invoice, they don't
get paid. It's the same for us except that most composers seem to expect
someone at the production co. to do their invoicing (Cue Sheets) and then
never check their work. It is now in my contracts that I get a copy of all
cue sheets before the show airs so that I can check for errors. Then I
forward a copy electronically to ASCAP as a backup to Production. Would I
rather be playing the piano? Yes. Is it a pain in the ass? Yes. But I get
paid! Last time I looked it is called show business.

How many of you would send money to your electric company without receiving
a bill first?


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 2:22 PM
To: fmpro at nxport.com
Subject: Re: [Fmpro] ASCAP - AMAZING SCAMMING COLLECTION AGENCY PROCEDURES

Well I can do all that but isn't that ASCAP's job?


On 11/30/06 12:16 PM, "Scott Szabo" <scott at szabosoundandmusic.com> wrote:

> 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 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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