[Fmpro] More ASCAP Info Continued Again

[Mark Northam]

On 7/26/07 6:10 AM, "leshurdle" <leshurdle at avradionet.com> wrote:

> The fact ASCAP wont release [via DW] pertinent data about the
> elections makes me wonder who is 'allowed' on the board and who isn't?

They won't release it officially, much less through Doug.


This is an absolutely central issue regarding the integrity and intentions
of the ASCAP Board. The track record of this group is controversial to say
the least...

* They create new rules to eliminate independent candidates
* They refuse to release vote counts or the number of potential or actual
voters in the elections
* The incumbents almost always (recently) get re-elected
* They meet in secret and members may know nothing about board member
attendance records, agendas, who votes or says what, etc.

This looks far more like a dictatorship these days than a democracy, sadly.

And yes, Doug, I see in your campaign literature your concern about the
destruction of the independent candidates situation, but what really matters
is what you are doing about. Talk is cheap, especially election-related
talk.

What actions are YOU taking to resolve this? When will we see a new
amendment put to the membership? What alternatives are there to the
amendment process if that's unworkable? I see no urgency or priority placed
on this matter - but then again, why would the ASCAP Board do so? This rule
protects their careers on the ASCAP Board very, very nicely.  Do you not see
the incredibly self-serving perception and result of this rule?

This is EXACTLY why I believe that self-interest is the main guiding force
on the ASCAP Board. Self-interest and fear. Self-interest to the point that
they are willing to create draconian language that effectively strips
members of a basic right enjoyed for over 40 years (the right to create
independent candidates for the Board). Fear to the point that they are so
scared of members knowing what they are doing on the Board that they are
fearful of even releasing their attendance records, much less anything more
about the Board meetings. And please, don't trot out the "BMI" excuse on
this one. 

>> 3. Still waiting for your observations re: the travel habits of your friends
>> on the ASCAP Board. If they're soaking us (the members) for First Class air
>> travel, don't we - the members - deserve to know that - since we're paying
>> their bills? I wish you wouldn't just ignore questions like this and hope
>> they go away. If you don't want to answer, just say so.
> 
> I'm really not qualified to pass judgment on this.  I drive a VW bus, I wear
> jeans and sneakers most of the time, I still use a DX-7 as my controller
> because I'm too cheap to buy a decent keyboard. What other people do is up
> to them. I think there are more important issues.

I'm not asking you to pass judgment, just tell us, since they're spending
OUR money, what you know about whether they are flying First Class or not
when going to ASCAP board meetings, etc. Sure there are more important
issues, but that doesn't mean all the less-important issues should be
ignored.

Doug, we're paying the bills for these people. Don't we deserve to know how
our money is being spent?

Best,

Mark Northam

---------------------------------
Mark Northam - Publisher
Film Music Magazine / Film Music Weekly
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