[Fmpro] Inside "eastern block"

[Mark Northam]

On 9/18/07 3:11 PM, "Lev Zemlinski" <zemlinsk at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Speaking about former SU republics, I think Russian
> PRO is in the best position. But it gets nothing from
> ASCAP for Russian films on air! I personally talked
> with the Head of film department not long ago and she
> told me that they try to send all necessary
> information to ASCAP, but get no response. One of the
> Russian leading film composers had to become member of
> ASCAP and register himself as American publisher to
> get royalties. Do you think that Russian PRO is very
> much interested to pay American authors in this
> situation? Though ASCAP is sending cue sheets
> regularly, I saw them.


Reminds me of when I scored a film for a cable channel, got nothing for any
performances, even though the cable channel religiously sent in monthly
reports of all films aired on the channel to ASCAP.  Echoes of the ASCAP
arrogantly proclaiming that HBO 2, 3, and 4 were "time-shifted" versions of
HBO and there was no need to track what was on those stations. Their
arrogance would be laughable if it weren't costing composers millions.

Same old problem - if they actually paid everyone whose music aired (or even
close to everyone), it would create an unacceptable reduction in the amounts
of the checks the fat cats get. Remember, the broadcasters are already
paying for ALL MUSIC AIRED. Paying more of it would only dilute the
distribution pot. They can proclaim accountability and transparency all they
want and spend millions of our royalty dollars on an "international
department", but it all falls to pieces when I read something like what you
wrote - where they are being sent information and are not using it.

Mark Northam


---------------------------------
Mark Northam - Publisher
Film Music Magazine / Film Music Weekly
The Professional Voice of Music for Film & TV
1-800-774-3700 ext. 702 / 310-645-9000 ext. 702
http://www.filmmusicmag.com
Yahoo/Skype: marknortham  /  AIM: mnortham