[Fmpro] ASCAP

Fri Jul 20 00:11:19 GMT 2007

Hi Doug,

> HI friends,

I think friends are those you never hide anything from, always tell  
the truth to and last but not least never shy away from.

Your email, as ever, is very welcome........... I began to think you  
were dead ;-)

Please see below.........

On Jul 19, 2007, at 8:27 AM, Doug Wood wrote:

>
>
> I agree with many of the sentiments expressed here, but some  
> misinformation
> has been posted (there's a surprise!) and rumors have been posited  
> as fact.

Excuse the CAPS.

THE SURPRISE IS YOU SHOULD SUGGEST THERE IS MISINFORMATION ON THE LIST.
WERE YOU AND THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS TO SIMPLY 'TELL ALL'.. THERE  
WOULD BE NO NEED FOR MANY OF US TO GUESS.

THE BALL IS ALWAYS IN YOUR COURT........ I BELIEVE IT IS TRUE TO SAY  
IT IS YOU WHO CHOSE NOT TO TELL ALL.
>  So be wary of inflammatory posts which lump
> all Board members together as "cowards" or some sort of evil clan.  
> These
> posters know better, or should.

COLLECTIVELY THE BOARD IS MADE UP OF A BUNCH OF SELF-SERVING FOLK.

FORTUNATELY, YOU DO MAKE CONTACT, TAKE YOUR LICKS AND GIVE THEM, AND  
I'M GRATEFUL.... LOVE YA BABE, BUT WONT ROLL OVER ;-)
I'VE ONLY MEET MR BROUGHTON ONCE BUT HIS POMPOSITY MADE IT VERY CLEAR  
HE WAS NEVER GOING TO SULLY HIS HANDS WITH THE 'LESS THANS'.....  MR  
BELLIS IS THE NEW GUY, WHO APPARENTLY DOESN'T KNOW AS MUCH AS HE SHOULD.

WHO ELSE REPRESENTS
'US'... PRAY TELL.
>
> Second, broadcasters do not pay $123 for a minute of music. Most
> broadcasters have a blanket license with all three PROs under which  
> they
> have the right to broadcast anything in the PRO's repertoire for a  
> flat fee.
> The license covers every piece of music they use over a five year  
> period. So
> the PROs try to keep track of the music that a licensee broadcasts  
> during a
> quarter (plenty to discuss here, but not now) and distribute the
> broadcaster's license fee among those composers and publishers  
> according to
> their various distribution formulas.

WHY NOT DISCUSS IT NOW DOUG?

I POSTED THE OTHER DAY, MR LOFRUMENTO MADE IT CLEAR TO ME HE WANTED 1-1.
1-1 FOR THOS WHO DON'T KNOW MEANS EITHER ALL MUSIC IS PAID THE SAME  
RATE 24/7 [NO DON'T PLEAD THE AUDIENCE B/S EXCUSES ANYONE]  OR MUSIC  
USED FOR THE SAME PURPSE IS PAID THE SAME RATE.
E.G. SONG USED AS 'BACKGROUND' MUSIC IS PAID AT 20% NOT 100%

SO IF THE CEO WANTS 1-1... WHO DOESN'T?

HERE'S THE KICKER DOUG.......... THE BROADCASTERS MAKE IT VERY CLEAR  
THEY PAY ASCAP 1-1.... WANNA REALLY SAY THIS ISN'T SO?

LET'S AHVE THE NAMES OF THOSE AT ASCAP WHO ARE ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO  
1-1 [EQUAL PAY].......... OR IS SOME MUSIC BLACK AND OTHER MUSIC WHITE?

NOW I SEE WE ARE LOCKED INTO A 5 YEAR DEAL... BASED ON WHAT, MYTHOLOGY?

WHO KNOWS WHAT/WHICH MUSIC OR HOW MUCH MUSIC IS TO BE AIRED IN 5  
YEARS FROM 'NOW'.?

THOSE OF US WHO ARE PRS MEMBERS HAVE JUST EXPERIENCED A MELTDOWN OF  
THE PRS BOARD WHO RAMRODED THROUGH A CHANGE IN DISTRIBUTION..........  
WHICH I CONTEND BRABEK KNEW ABOUT YEARS AGO !!!!!!!!...........    
SAME B/S AS THE ASCAP BOARD.... PRS BOARD MEMBRS CLAIMED THOSE WHO  
DARED TO QUESTION THE CHANGES TO BE 'MISINFORMED', A RABBLE, SILLY ,  
DAFT......... GUESS WHAT, TO DATE, NOT ONE PIECE OF INFORMATION, NOT  
ONE SHRED OF EVIDENCE TO PROVE THE CHANGE WAS  
NECESSARY...............   SOUND FAMILIAR... MEDIAGUIDE ETC ETC?

I FOR ONE HAVE LOST ALL TRUST AND FAITH IN THE PRS BOARD AND CAN  
NEVER HOLD PRS UP AS A GUIDING LIGHT........... YES I KNOW, YOU TOLD  
ME !!

BOTTOM LINE.... PRO'S ARE PUBLISHER AND GREED DRIVEN.
>
>
>
> (Make no mistake, if American broadcasters had their way they would
> eliminate all performance royalties and tell composers to get their  
> money
> from producers, studios and ad agencies. Now there's a formula you  
> don't
> want if you're a composer! Look at Scripps! Or Turner!)

MAKE NO MISTAKE... IT IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.... IT'S CALLED A  
DOWNLOAD !!
>
> So American broadcasters now pay less for music, as a percentage of  
> income,
> than broadcasters in most other parts of the civilized world.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ADD UP THE INCOME OF ALL 3 US PRO'S?

YEARS AGO I DID THIS VIA MS MELTZER........... YES IT WAS LESS PER  
CAPITA PER PRO THAN E.G. PRS........ BUT ALL 3 TOGETHER..... MUCH MORE.

WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS DW?
> They are also
> unencumbered by any obligation to keep track of music use, as  
> broadcasters
> are required by law to do in Europe and elsewhere.

NOT ANYMORE.

> So these factors play
> into the current situation where score and CPA composers suffer
> disproportionately under the current system at all three PROs.

SO STOP IT.  [;-)]
>
> I can't and won't defend the current ASCAP distribution formula -  
> indeed,
> the reform of this formula was the reason I originally ran for the  
> Board and
> has been the primary item on my campaign platform every election  
> since. But
> change will require time, energy, focus, determination, and the  
> support of
> 13 Board members and the members of ASCAP.

IT ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.

IN THE UK WE HAVE THE MASONIC MAFIA RUNNING PRS AND IT'S A 'CLUB'  
WHICH RUNS ASCAP........
>
> I can help supply the first four of those, and I will do everything to
> garner support of other Board members. However, the civil but vocal  
> support
> of ASCAP members is critical. If you can avoid the name calling,  
> the rumor
> mongering, the half-truths, the distortions, and the temptation to  
> jump to
> other subjects, we can get this done.

OK......... YOU START.

HOW MUCH MONEY DID ASCAP TRANSFER FROM LOCAL TV INCOME TO NETWORK TV  
DISTRIBUTION IN 2006... AND WHY?
>
> I will organize another phone conference call this fall for ASCAP  
> members
> who want to speak with me about these and other ASCAP issues.  
> Please email
> me off the list if you would like to participate and I'll let you  
> know about
> date and time.

ARE YOU SURE?
>
> And yes, I still fly in the back of the plane and use my miles to  
> reduce
> ticket costs. After all, it's members' money.

I'M PROUD OF YOU DOUG.... WHO ON THE ASCAP BOARD AND STAFF RIDE 1ST  
CLASS?

AS EVER.... THANKS FOR BEING THERE, BUT WITH RESPECT..... YOU'LL HAVE  
TO DO MUCH BETTER [data etc] MATEY.

BEST

Les

>
> Doug Wood
> ASCAP Board member
>
> Disclaimer: The views expressed are my own and do not necessarily  
> reflect
> those of ASCAP, its directors, management or staff.
>
>
>
>
>
>
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