[Fmpro] !

[Mark Northam]

Actually a strike against ASCAP might be more promising than a strike
against the production companies who have plenty of other ways to get films
scored.

For a long time, the question choosing between ASCAP and BMI has been left
to old wive's tales and other anecdotal "wisdom" about which one is
"better". ASCAP and BMI are very careful not to say anything bad about each
other in public.

But just because they don't want to compete openly for members doesn't mean
others shouldn't voice their opinions as to which PRO is better. And
frankly, given all the outrageous actions of the ASCAP Board over the last
few years, maybe it's time to start comparing...

* 1,250 signatures for independent candidates, virtually impossible
* MediaGuide paid for with tens of millions of dollars from all of us, but
only deployed to pay royalties on radio
* No watermarking, despite the technology has been available for years
* Ignoring the votes of the membership and appointing a "friend" to fill the
most recent board opening instead of the person with the next highest number
of votes
* Horrible customer service, arrogant attitudes
* Reps who monitor this list and refuse to answer basic questions
* Among the world's most discriminatory weightings against score music
* No board attendance records, board meetings closed to members
* Hearing board cases severely limited to the point that there are no more

And the list goes on and on, as we've discussed here for a long time...

Maybe it's time to send the ASCAP Board a message: Start treating composers
better, or it's time to make a very public case to move to BMI.

Now, are things any better at BMI where there are no Board elections? I
don't know. But I can tell you in the 10 years since we began publishing
Film Music magazine, I have not received a single complaint about BMI
customer service. Not one. One way or another, they keep their members
happy, it would seem, to a much greater extent than ASCAP, about who I have
heard complaints directly from members, employees and others.

Thoughts?

Mark N.


On 12/2/07 7:57 AM, "Les Mizzell" <lesmizz at bellsouth.net> wrote:

> "You wanna strike? Go ahead, we got plenty of library music and a bunch
> of songwriters over here. No problem. Enjoy your vacation."

---------------------------------
Mark Northam, CEO
Global Media Development Group

http://www.RoyaltyWeek.com - The Business of Music Royalties Worldwide

1-800-774-3700 ext. 702 / 310-645-9000 ext. 702
http://www.gmdgroup.com
Yahoo/Skype: marknortham  /  AIM: mnortham