[Fmpro] SOCAN CPA Rip-off?

[Mark Northam]

On 4/4/08 3:05 AM, "David Tkaczuk" <d-dmusic at rogers.com> wrote:

> I checked with our PRO in Canada, SOCAN, they do not
> collect PR's on any spots. Grrr....!!!

Well, if they don't collect any license fees from the broadcasters, those
commercials must not be covered in SOCAN's blanket licenses with the
broadcasters, so what gives the broadcasters the legal right to air them? If
the music is not included in SOCAN's blanket license, then you should be
able to approach the broadcasters and do direct licenses...? At least in the
USA, the copyright owner has the EXCLUSIVE right to control the public
performance of their music, which they usually do through the collective
(ASCAP/BMI/SESAC) they hire and pay to represent them for public
performances.

The key here: Does SOCAN give the broadcasters the legal right to perform
music in commercials?

If (as I suspect) SOCAN in fact DOES legally permit broadcasters to air
commercials and that music is covered under SOCAN's blanket broadcaster
license, and then turns around and doesn't pay composers, SOCAN has just
deemed 1/2 of the music on television today (commercial/ad/promo music) to
be WORTHLESS and FREE - just like the old NAPSTER.

Somebody ought to ask SOCAN what they think about FREE MUSIC and SOCAN's
promotion of free music!!! The idea that a PRO is in the business of legally
providing multi-million dollar, profitable corporations with the right to
broadcast lots of music for FREE is offensive and an ultimate breach of
their primary mission: to establish the highest value for the music of its
members and collect royalties based on that.

Mark Northam