[Fmpro] 1:1 finer points

[Merritt Music Productions]

Hi Pete,

A Background Vocal might be something I would score with Symphony of Voices
or orchestral Choirs singing real words, or even hire a vocalist to add
textures oohs and ahhs - and maybe lyrics.  Music designed to support the
scene, but the characters on screen can't hear the music.

So in a song with vocals, but the song is used as background music, not a
feature.  Yet it is rewarded a feature performance anyway.  Just list it as
Background Vocal and poof - automatic feature credit.

This is just plain silly.  The deciding factor should not be the presence of
a vocal in a piece of music as to whether the music receives a feature
credit (which amounts to a lot more money given to that composer - but TAKEN
from all the other composers.)

That's right - any bonus given to one composer or style of music (music with
vocals) TAKES money for the money that is to be distributed to all the other
composers!

And I am sick of it!  I want my background piece to make the same money as a
background with vocals!

Don't the rest of you composer out there agree?

Can you see how this could favor songwriters?  If they get a song placed in
a film you are scoring and their song is 3 minutes and you compose a 3
minute piece for the movie.  THE SONG WILL MAKE SOMETHING LIKE FIVE TIMES
MORE MONEY THAN YOU,  Doesn't matter if it's any old song they picked off
MySpace or wherever.  

That's just the current ASCAP policy:  "Background Vocal" receives an
instant bump to feature performance.

It's a silly policy!

CM




Merritt Music Productions LLC

merrittmusic.com

(323) 306-3057 (Los Angeles)

(347) 767-2952 (New York)

(865) 686-6388 (Knoxville)

(865) 300-5473 (Mobile)

(323) 306-3058 (Fax)

-----Original Message-----
From: fmpro-bounces+chris=merrittmusic.com at nxport.com
[mailto:fmpro-bounces+chris=merrittmusic.com at nxport.com] On Behalf Of Pete
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 11:44 PM
To: fmpro at nxport.com
Subject: Re: [Fmpro] 1:1 finer points

A: is fine with me as long as it doesn't cause all the songwriters to take
their valuable catalog out of ASCAP and over to BMI. And if ASCAP paid
jingles and promos the same as background instrumental, I'd take my
instrumental catalog over to BMI.

B: Visual Vocal and Visual Instrumental are currently paid the same.
Actually, Visual Instrumental is paid as much as ANY vocal. Vocal Theme and
Instrumental Theme are currently paid the same. The question is, "what's a
Background Vocal usage"? If people are listening to the lyrics, isn't it in
the foreground?

Pete


--- On Tue, 6/24/08, Christopher Alpiar <chris at alpiar.com> wrote:

> From: Christopher Alpiar <chris at alpiar.com>
> Subject: [Fmpro] 1:1 finer points
> To: fmpro at nxport.com
> Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2008, 10:58 PM
> This is REALLY important and the answer here will have some
> serious  
> impact to some hopefully forward moving stuff. I really
> appreciate  
> some answer from the old school gang on this :) Thanks!
> 
> When you say you want 1:1 and when you say PROs in Europe
> pay 1:1 do  
> you mean that
> 
> A. ALL music used in a show, regardless of Visual,
> Background, Source,  
> Theme, instrumental, Vocal - it should ALL be paid the same
> exactly?
> 
> B. ALL music in the SAME CATEGORY regardless of vocal or
> instrumental  
> should be paid the same? (IE VISUAL VOCAL and VISUAL
> INSTRUMENTAL paid  
> the same and BACKGROUND VOCAL and BACKGROUND INSTRUMENTAL
> paid the  
> same but VISUAL paid on a different scale than BACKGROUND,
> and THEME  
> paid on a different scale)
> 
> 
> Christopher Kennedy Alpiar
> Cinematic Composer
> 937.294.0900 (Dayton Studio)
> 310.339.9603 (Los Angeles)
> 877.294.0912 (Toll Free)
> www.alpiar.com


      

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