[Fmpro] CPA (was Did you???????)

[James Ryan]

Hi Dave,

You can collect if:

1) it's a local spot and the survey finds you and you've done due  
diligence with the checklist below.
2) It's a national spot and you've sent in the media buy invoices and  
all paperwork and confirmed with ASCAP that all is well
3) It's a cable spot and the survey finds you and you've sent in the  
media buy invoices and all paperwork and confirmed with ASCAP that all  
is well

Then it is very likely that you will be paid in proportion to the  
amount of airtime the advertiser/agency buys.

You can obtain all registration materials and instructions from  
ASCAP.  They are not complicated, just tedious in how much proof they  
require.

In case you missed the previous email, here is my checklist again:

1) When making your deal with the ad agency, stipulate as part of the  
deal that they send you (redacted if they like) copies of the media  
buy invoices for filing with ASCAP.  This is a must for national spots  
and cable, but not necessary for local spots.
2) Make copies, save the originals and send the copies.
3) Check and double check that you have filled out all registration  
materials properly, and keep copies.  They may forget to tell you if  
you made a mistake on the registration, and your registration could  
find its way into the circular file.  I don't condone this.  It's an  
unfortunate situation, but has been a very real one in my experience.   
I cannot emphasize enough the backup copies.  ASCAP has lost a few of  
my registrations in the past, and the copies saved my butt.
4) Send all materials by registered courier, e.g. FedEx, UPS,  
Registered Mail Return Receipt.  You will want proof of delivery with  
a signature if your materials are lost.
5) Follow up, follow up, follow up.  Don't be shy, the squeaky wheel  
gets the grease.  Don't wait until you get an empty royalty  
statement.  Call and make sure your registration went through and is  
being processed properly.  In the case of local and cable, if you know  
when and where your spots aired, you can even ask for the survey  
details for that period in that part of the country so you'll know if  
you should be paid.  This will also serve as evidence if you can prove  
you were included in the survey and somehow, weren't paid.

Best,
James

On Apr 4, 2008, at 8:35 PM, David Tkaczuk wrote:

> James :
>
> Your information is Gold to me.
>
> SOCAN seems to be useles when it comes to PRO
> income on jingles/sound design. But, I am "affiliated" with
> ASCAP, so, who knows, if I write a spot for the U.S. market.
> I could start to collect ? No ?
>
> This could be valuable. Thanks again.
>
> Dave T.
> D&D music
>
> James Ryan wrote: