[Fmpro] ASCAP bashing

[andrew feazelle]

ASCAP has a set of rules which every member agrees to
when they join. ASCAP follows those rules. - P e t e 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Didn't ASCAP defy it's own written rules, when it was decided by those in power
to start paying all Background Vocal at the weight of feature performance?  The written rules were not changed, but everyone got a letter from one of the Brabecks (or some upper crust ASCAP puppeteer), stating BV is now considered feature.  This action was in response to some complaints, that some non-background vocal tracks were missclassified as BV, leading to smaller royalties for those songwriters who had their stuff missclassified.  

Part 7(a) of ASCAP's weighting rules says (and i'm paraphrasing to focus the subject matter) "A vocal performance shall be presumed to be a feature performance, UNLESS such performace is not a principal focus of audience attention."   

The rule specifically stipulates that a vocal performance should not be weighted as a feature performance, unless it is the principal focus of audience attention.  If a vocal performace is truely "background", i.e. BV, then it cannot be the principal focus of audience attention.  Therefore, when Burgman and Brabeck and the other puppet masters decide the solution to the missclassification problem is to implement a new wieghting policy (going directly against their own written rules) they are in fact, NOT FOLLOWING their own rules.  They are making stuff up to suit their own needs.     

My source is http://www.ascap.com/reference/boardofreview_warren.pdf
If the rules have been rewritten since their posting in this source, i will apologize, and retract what i have said.  

Andrew Fez (non-PRO member)   

PS, I haven't looked at a membership contract, but i'm willing to bet that the weighting rules (and what is actual practiced in regard to weighting) are not explained in detail (or in a manner a new member could easily comprehend) in the contract.