[Fmpro] PRO strategy: need advice

[Mark Northam]

On 10/2/07 2:27 PM, "Merritt Music Productions" <chris at merrittmusic.com>
wrote:

> If the music plays on a station where PRO money is being paid out, then by
> ASCAP or BMI contract, they MUST turn in a cue sheet, and that cue sheet
> MUST list only the actual writer of the music.

Not really. ASCAP and BMI have for years established a precedent where any
person's name (has to be a writer member of a PRO) can be put on a cue sheet
and the PROs will pay, even when it's common knowledge that the person whose
name (or alias) is in the writer column on the cue sheet did not write the
music. It's a total abandonment of the most important element of integrity
in their entire repertoire - that the database reflects who actually wrote
the music. Talk about selling the industry down the river.

> Mark, is there some way to anonymously report cue sheet fraud?  Some
> organization that will track down the listed composers and verify?

The PROs conveniently make this impossible, since cue sheets can only be
seen by those whose names are on them. You can file a complaint, but the
PROs defer to a legal judgment, which is usually beyond the financial
ability of most members to achieve due to legal costs, etc. Plus, you're
assuming the PROs care about cue sheet fraud. Don't forget (see above), the
PROs are the chief enablers of cue sheet fraud by knowingly allowing people
to put their name down as writers on cue sheets who didn't write the music.
And let's not forget the ASCAP Board a few years ago actually voted DOWN a
measure that would have ASCAP take a stand in principal against cue sheet
fraud. The precedent (for years) and this vote sends a message loud and
clear to those who want to rip off composers via cue sheet fraud: FULL SPEED
AHEAD, IT'S OK WITH ASCAP.

How sad it is that the ASCAP Board of Directors cares more about eliminating
independent candidates from the ballot than eliminating phony writers from
cue sheets. 

Best,

Mark Northam