[Fmpro] blacklisted because of PRO affiliation?

[Mark Northam]

The last "episode" I heard of this was several years ago when the PAX cable
network was demanding that score composers for their in-house produced shows
join SESAC and give up their writers royalties for USA broadcasts of the
shows. SESAC's willingness to go along (or not) with this scheme was a major
PR issue at the time. Needless to say, SESAC and PAX were not exactly
thrilled when Film Music Magazine broke the story about these abusive
practices, and SESAC quickly distanced themselves from PAX.

Currently, a major animation company, who was (according to SESAC) dropped
by SESAC and then welcomed by ASCAP, routinely demands composers list
aliases for the President of the animation company as a 30% or more
co-writer for score cues. This was pointed out to ASCAP some time ago, but
did they do anything?  Guess they're waiting for some poor composer be the
"fall guy" for this blatant case of cue sheet fraud.

And it certainly makes a mockery out of ASCAP's position when it comes to
the integrity of cue sheets, etc, frankly. I have no doubt that if this
objectionable business practice were demanded of songwriter (kicking back a
portion of the writers royalty to the production company), Marilyn and her
pals would be up in arms. But when it comes to score composers, as evidenced
by the weighting formulas and so much more, it's clear that ASCAP is fine
with production companies aiming all kinds of outrageously abusive business
practices at score composers. ASCAP's welcoming of this animation company
and their inaction in the face of direct, massive and continuing cue sheet
fraud by this company is direct evidence of this.

And no, I'm not talking about SABAN...


Best,

Mark Northam


On 3/26/08 9:10 AM, "Todd Burns" <tzilla at pacbell.net> wrote:

> Has anyone ever heard of shows or networks blacklisting songs,
> libraries or composers because of their PRO affiliation?  This would
> have to do with, for example, a PRO (ASCAP,BMI,SESAC) playing
> hardball when the contracts are up for negotiation, so a network
> plays hardball right back and pulls the material.
> 
> Anyone heard of this?  A composer friend of mine mentioned this
> happened some years ago.  Scandalous, I know.
> 
> Todd
> 
> 
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