[Fmpro] Mechanicals

[LesHurdle]

On Sep 24, 2007, at 1:08 AM, Mark Northam wrote:

> Reps from SGAE (Spanish society) were shocked when they visited the  
> US in
> the late 1990s (at the invitation of Les Hurdle, Mark Holden, David
> MacMurray and others - if you ever wonder why ASCAP hates them so  
> much, this
> is part of the reason why) and discovered that many film and TV  
> composers
> weren't getting their share of broadcast mechanical royalties from  
> Europe.
> However, shortly thereafter, SGAE didn't want to talk anymore about  
> the
> subject. Wonder why. To date, bringing up this subject is the  
> quickest way
> to ensure the "cold shoulder" from any Euro society. So much for  
> sticking up
> for writers, etc.


In all fairness to SGAE.

The CEO invited my wife & I to the 1st Latin Grammy's and we did  
receive the royal treatment.

He also told us SGAE had been besieged by senior ASCAP staff re their  
visit to the USA and AACO seminars..... and basically threatened.
He also said he wished Ms Bergman had had the courage to call him !!

What is interesting is after the SGAE visit and the 'row', there were  
pages in Spanish in Playback and apparently and allegedly Cuban  
writers [in Miami] started to get money from ASCAP, which had not  
been happening to any degree.
So the AACO did some good !!

I would ask every person on this list to contact their PRO and  
request conformation that e.g. SACEM in France is obliged by law to  
treat all 'foreign' writers as 'nationals' and pay accordingly.

PLEASE do this and let's discuss what all 2 of you find......... you  
may be very surprised.

I also suggest you all demand statements from PRO's and Publishers  
with a gross amount at source column........  you'll be amazed at the  
answers.

L