[Fmpro] Global Competition

[Mark Northam]

On 12/3/07 12:59 AM, "Pete" <musical411 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Mark,
> 
> Very nobel, but even the most dedicated firefighter
> knows when to leave a burning building.

Is that your assessment of ASCAP now? I believe in the concept of what ASCAP
stands for - an association owned and operated by the members. I do not
believe in what ASCAP has been twisted into by the current regime - a way to
divert millions of dollars unfairly into the pockets of songwriters by
labeling every song a feature performance and weighting a minute of generic
music with lyrics at 500% of what a minute of custom score is weighted. I
have to believe that one day, enough composers will be sick and tired of
this discriminatory treatment and will decide to do something about it.
Informing them of the extent of the discrimination and unfair treatment is
the first step in that process, hence why I write about it.

> And like you said, you can find the value of something
> by taking it away and seeing how much they will pay to
> bring it back. Maybe if we all left ASCAP we would
> find our catalogs are worth more than we ever
> imagined. Or, maybe we'd have to except that our
> catalogs are not worth as much as we had hoped.

There is strength in collective action. If composers can find a way to act
collectively, great things could be done. Composers have a huge amount of
marketshare in terms of music on the air, but no collective strength. The
threat of moving to BMI en masse would send a message loud and clear. Enough
is enough with the lousy weightings, payment, election policy, etc...
 
> Speaking of "we", when you say "score music and those
> who write it" does that include library composers?
> What about library composers who happen to write
> lyrics too?
>

Music with lyrics is given highly preferential treatment at ASCAP, as you
know. My concerns lie with score music and those who write it, as these are
the music performances that have been so severely penalized for so long by
ASCAP.

MN





> --- Mark Northam <mnortham at gmdgroup.com> wrote:
>> Frankly, because my interests go beyond my own
>> royalty checks. I'm committed
>> to helping bring about reform at ASCAP, which I
>> believe will ultimately help
>> all composers as BMI and SESAC will be forced to
>> match any significant
>> reforms that occur at ASCAP in order to remain
>> competitive.
>> 
>> If all I was focused on was my own royalty checks, I
>> would have left ASCAP
>> long, long ago. On a purely personal basis, I find
>> their arrogance and
>> outrageous policies directed at score music and
>> those who write it to be
>> incredibly offensive.
>> 
>> Best,
>> 
>> Mark N.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On 12/2/07 3:18 PM, "Pete" <musical411 at yahoo.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> So, with all due respect, why haven't you done it?
>> I
>>> bet ASCAP would even help you pack :-)
>>> 
>>> P e t e
>>> S u r d o v a l
> 
> 
> 
>       
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> ______
> Be a better pen pal.
> Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how.
> http://overview.mail.yahoo.com/
> _______________________________________________
> The Film Music Pro List is sponsored by Film Music Magazine -
> http://www.filmmusicmag.com
> 
> Best of FMPRO: http://www.fmproquotes.com - Quotes site  by Billy Hale Music
> 
> To edit your list options or unsubscribe, visit:
> http://nxport.com/mailman/listinfo/fmpro

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

http://www.DemoCheck.com - Get Your Music Heard By The Pros

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