[Fmpro] $ depletion

[Mark Northam]

Hard to call it a monopoly when there are 3 PRO's to choose from, plus you
can choose to direct license and not use a PRO...

Problem is, as Peter Myers found out when he simply wanted to classify his
music with a live vocalist as a "background vocal", ASCAP will spend any
amounts of OUR money to legally bury anybody and everybody who fights "the
system". They have a virtually unlimited legal defense fund paid for by the
very same members who, some believe, are being treated incredibly unfairly.

Not to mention they're in regular communications with the publishers,
studios, production companies, etc., and from my experience have not been
shy about "warning" people about associating with those who they do not
approve of.  What composer is going to put his/her career at risk and spend
a lot of money to try and solve these kinds of problems?

I'll say it again, we need a well-funded industry group whether it be a
guild, union, or otherwise, to deal with these issues. And we need a group
that is not bending over backwards thanking the PROs for their funding at
every opportunity...


Best,

Mark Northam


On 10/24/06 1:05 PM, "Louis King" <lking1 at nyc.rr.com> wrote:

> I think it would be hard to call it anything other than a
> monopoly ......  hence against the law ....
> 
> also I believe they like any big business operate on the line between
> legal and illegal making a large home in the GREY area ....

---------------------------------
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