[Fmpro] Fwd: This Week in FMW: FTV Music Conf, NeKo Demo, New SESAC Office, ASCAP UK Awards

[kirbyko3@aol.com]

If
you are going to attack a business (music library or otherwise) and label it
as abusive/etc you had better be ready for that business owner to attack
back PR-wise and perhaps legally, unless what he's doing is illegal (which
it's not as far as I can tell).

I may be wrong (and hope I am!), but I am not sensing that there are a great
many composers ready to spend time, energy and money battling music library
companies who offer music with no sync fees.

Hi Mark,

I'm not sure how legal issues or attacking libraries entered into the convo...? I'm talking about FMN not taking advertising or posting jobwires from a library that offers no sync fees to its composers.? It doesn't jive that you're OK with that, because that's the way the industry is heading, but you're not OK with the PRO's unfair treatment of instrumental composers (who are at least getting paid SOMETHING, even though it's only .20 on the dollar).? 

While I appreciate the intensity with which FMN tries to hold the PRO's to the fire, it seems that while you're covering the backend, you're selling out the front end: the sync fees. 

So my ultimate questions are:

1) why does FMN endorse such practices? (the non-paying libraries)
2) how about creating a compendium of libraries indicating what their business models are -- sort of like a "Composer's Guide to working with Music Libraries" -- the same way you guys have done the other reports that you offer, like the going rate for scoring gigs, etc.

This usually-vocal list is really dead-silent about this topic...? I'm kinda surprised.? I guess I expected more outrage.

Kerry


-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Northam <mnortham at gmdgroup.com>
To: fmpro at nxport.com
Sent: Wed, 24 Oct 2007 1:36 pm
Subject: Re: [Fmpro] Fwd: This Week in FMW: FTV Music Conf, NeKo Demo, New SESAC Office, ASCAP UK Awards



Hi Kerry -

I guess what I'm saying (asking) is, what are we as an industry ready to do
to draw the line? The picture is much bigger than one music library.

Any effective resistance will require more than a few (50+ perhaps)
composers spending time, money and energy to work for a better industry. If
you are going to attack a business (music library or otherwise) and label it
as abusive/etc you had better be ready for that business owner to attack
back PR-wise and perhaps legally, unless what he's doing is illegal (which
it's not as far as I can tell).

I may be wrong (and hope I am!), but I am not sensing that there are a great
many composers ready to spend time, energy and money battling music library
companies who offer music with no sync fees. Sure, it's fine to have a moral
debate about it, and we have lots of those here on the FMPRO list about
libraries, PROs and others. But any effective resistance is going to involve
numbers of composers, and I just don't see that.

And sorry to bring up the PRO comparison again, but if composers are not
willing to demand better treatment from those WE HIRE AND PAY to collect our
royalties, what are the chances of getting any better treatment from 3rd
party companies (like music libraries) that we don't pay?

Best,

Mark



On 10/24/07 10:08 AM, "kirbyko3 at aol.com" <kirbyko3 at aol.com> wrote:

> I feel like you're saying a lot of "Yes, but..." to justify supporting
> libraries that don't pay you anything for the use of their music. "Yes, they
> don't pay you anything... BUT ascap is even worse because they're in cahoots
> with the major broadcasters..."?? I totally get that, but a second evil
> shouldn't be used to dwarf or justify the first one.? I don't think you can
> justify saying that it's OK to participate with those libraries just because
> the PRO's are already taking you for a ride.? Any forward strides will be made
> with baby steps, which calls for drawing a line somewhere.? I would suggest
> that a line be drawn here at giving music away for free.
> 
> Do you think that's a fair place to draw the line?
> 
> Kerry

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

http://www.RoyaltyWeek.com - The Business of Music Royalties Worldwide

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



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