[Fmpro] Rapid Cue

[Mark Northam]

Hi Larry -

Thanks for the great  info - I guess you were one of the selected
beta-testers?

On 8/16/07 9:37 AM, "LB440 at aol.com" <LB440 at aol.com> wrote:
>> 
>> 
> There is a box where you input who submitted the cue sheet but it is not
> manditory to fill it in.

I find this conscious choice by ASCAP to be absolutely wrong. It's like a
bank with checks that don't require signatures. No paper trail, just "send
it in blind". 

Cue sheets are the basis for the distribution of hundreds of millions of
dollars every year, and ASCAP decides it isn't even mandatory to have a
record of who submitted them, much less have anyone take responsibility for
their accuracy. Talk about a system that encourages cue sheet fraud! ASCAP
might as well have laid out the red carpet for every slimy executive who
wants to extort out a percentage of writers' royalties out of some composer
who either doesn't know any better or doesn't have any choice.

You know, it's too bad. ASCAP had a great opportunity to tighten up cue
sheets by requiring at least the name of who submitted it be included, and
could have included some language about being responsible for the accuracy
of the sheets. They decided "no" on both counts, and to me that is a vivid
display of their priorities and beliefs, especially in the area of cue sheet
fraud. 

First the ASCAP Board votes down a measure to take a stand against this ugly
practice, then they apparently design into RapidCue the same
no-accountability policies (no signature line on cue sheets, no mandatory
record of who submits them) that enable cue sheet fraud In the first place.

> 
> 
>  I believe you can get copies of sheets you've submitted via the new system
> and revise them. As far as legacy information, that would be fantastic if it
> were available, however information to-date suggests that is not a function
> included with the Rapidcue system.
> 
> This is correct but again the person submitting the cue sheet must authorize
> you to access the account.

As far as I'm concerned, if a cue sheet has my name on it, ASCAP has a
fiduciary duty through RapidCue or any other system to provide me with a
copy of it. I have a financial interest in the writers' share of performance
royalties even if I don't own the publishing, and that alone should entitle
me to examine any and all records that ASCAP has that determine my
participation in the royalties.

> 
> RapidCue is a big step forward in submitting cue sheets, it cuts down on a
> lot of paper work, and puts the information directily into ASCAP & BMI's
> system, 

And, as you said, you can get it back out again, which is great.

To me, a mixed bag. Hopefully one day we'll get some ASCAP Board members who
have the integrity to take a stand against cue sheet fraud. In the meantime,
RapidCue seems like a big step forward, even if the Canadians do have a
superior system :-)

Best,

Mark Northam