[Fmpro] 50/50

[Mark Northam]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: fmpro-bounces+markn=gmocorp.com at nxport.com [mailto:fmpro-
> bounces+markn=gmocorp.com at nxport.com] On Behalf Of LesHurdle
> Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 8:41 AM
> To: fmpro at nxport.com
> Subject: [Fmpro] 50/50
> 
> 
> On Jun 11, 2008, at 3:31 PM, Mark Northam wrote:
> 
> > the SCL Board. To
> > this day, they feature a public statement on their website that on
> > "joint
> > works" where there is a composer and lyricist, the royalties should
> > be split
> > 50/50
> 
> What a stupid stance to take.........  why not 60/40 in favour of the
> composer like EU countries?
> 
> L


Perhaps for the same reasons they never have anything publicly to say about
fighting ASCAP's oppressive instrumental music payment polcies for film/TV
music... it might "offend" the lyricists or the organization's financial
benefactor, ASCAP.

It helps me understand why some people would never want a composers-only
organization without the "helpful" assistance of the lyricists there to
block any composer reform that might end up shifting royalties from
songwriters/lyricists to composers. It's paralysis-by-design when it comes
to these issues, since more royalties paid by ASCAP to composers would mean
less paid to songwriters and lyricists.

The songwriters, I must say, designed this whole thing brilliantly, right
down to the financial control of composer organizations via sponsorships and
the highly influential presence of lyricists on the boards of composer
organizations. Given the hundreds of millions of dollars at stake and the
huge marketshare of instrumental music on television, composers simply
couldn't be "allowed" to have their own organization and means to achieve
the ability to use their marketshare to demand equality and fairness in
music royalties. Instead, we're relegated to second-class status when it
comes to royalties for our music, behind songwriters whose music is
classified as "featured" even when the cue sheet says "background". What a
deal.

Mark Northam