[Fmpro] Here's what happens when you have some clout

[Mark Northam]

Also, another thought on this. From direct experience, the lyricists at the
SCL have one job there: to keep composers from gaining enough critical mass
to actually do something proactive about lobbying the PROs for better rates.

There is no good reason for the lyricists to be part of the SCL, since
lyricists are hired and work in a very different way than composers.
Lyricists are well-represented by the Songwriters Guild of America and the
WGA in some cases. And of course, the SCL guys when pushed on the issue of
why they don't do more to lobby for better composer rates usually say that
they can't because that would be a conflict of interest for their lyricist
members (who would lose if composers get paid more by the PROs). And that's
the issue right there: an organization representing hundreds of composers is
hamstrung by a handful of powerful lyricists who keep the organization
paralyzed when it comes to forcefully lobbying the PROs for better rates for
composers. What a waste.

Sadly, our industry needs a strong lobbying organization, if only composers
weren't so fearful of offending the PROs who pay them at such lousy rates
compared to songs. If we can ever get over that fear, much could be done.

Best,

Mark Northam


On 8/27/07 11:47 AM, "Mark Northam" <mnortham at gmdgroup.com> wrote:

> Sadly, groups like the Society of Composers and Lyricists (SCL), which
> counts as members many top TV composers, already has the clout in terms of
> market share - at least on TV - to walk into ASCAP and demand better deals,
> but as they receive funding from ASCAP and have never, coincidentally (or
> not) had a BMI President, they choose not to use that clout and instead keep
> on accepting the funding and whatever other compensation may or may not
> Instead, they choose to be all warm and fuzzy with their good friends at
> ASCAP while composers continue to get screwed on performing rights royalties
> to an extent seen nowhere else in the world outside the US. The "warm and
> friendly" approach obviously hasn't worked.