[Fmpro] Who do you really know?

[Chris Alpiar]

Ah ok I see now (and no sauce for me for a few years now, even tho it might
seem I am saucier then ever sometimes hah)

Well as for changing the rules about who can be called a writer, I totally
agree, but how do you define who is a writer and who isn't? How do you prove
who is a composer and who is a hack? Is there a music test? A polygraph?
Hehe. I guess you could make the rule that they have to be notably published
writers in the community, but they could still be hacks that just swoop on
cue sheet credits like you say...

Mark while you and I are in strong parallel on defining what makes a good
composer, I am pretty sure; who is to say that person isn't an artist and
that other guy is. Ever been to the Museum of Modern Art in NYC? I SWEAR
half of that stuff is trash I could have slapped on a canvas in about 20
mins but well this is the really tough part of art, craft, business and
entertainment. So many grey areas. Is that art? Is that person a creative
genious or are they a scam artist? Are they just a bean counter who has the
power to drop their name at the right place and people believe they are an
artist? :( Unfortunately many people live for grey area wherever money is
involved and so the pure and good folk often get abused in every business,
the music business just has more grey areas and lots of pure and good people
that are building their art based on love for humanity, so we are easy
targets

-----Original Message-----
From: fmpro-bounces+chris=alpiar.com at nxport.com
[mailto:fmpro-bounces+chris=alpiar.com at nxport.com] On Behalf Of Mark Northam
Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2007 3:42 PM
To: fmpro at nxport.com
Subject: Re: [Fmpro] Who do you really know?

I think Les is referring to people whose primary income is derived from
publishing (or who handles publishing for others) running and being elected
as a writer board member.

This certainly seems like an area ripe for abuse, as at ASCAP, anybody can
put their name down as a "writer" and join as a "writer" even if they're
some middleman ripping off composers by demanding a percentage of writers
royalties as a kickback.

Maybe it's time for a higher standard to exist at ASCAP for the writer board
members other than requiring only that they have a current writer membership
at ASCAP... Writer board member independence is critical, especially with
the publisher-songwriter relationships that are only too obvious on the
Board currently.

Best,

Mark Northam



On 7/29/07 12:28 PM, "Chris Alpiar" <chris at alpiar.com>  wrote:

> Maybe I am having a blonde moment *blink blink* but what is the negative
of
> having publishers on the ASCAP board? Please educate me Sir Les. I can
> understand not wanting RIAA people but generally aren't the interests of
the
> publishers aligned with that of the composers?



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