[Fmpro] ASCAP's 'currency"

[CORBERLAW@aol.com]

In a message dated 5/27/2008 1:38:33 PM Pacific Daylight Time,  
fmpro-request at nxport.com writes:

Message:  2
Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 08:25:16 -0600
From: Kevin Mathie  <kevinmathie at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [Fmpro] ASCAP currency
To:  fmpro at nxport.com
Message-ID:  <F725EE7C-5BED-4C4A-8935-4A0170EDDAD7 at comcast.net>
Content-Type:  text/plain;    charset=US-ASCII;    delsp=yes;   format=flowed

I guess we need to figure out what ASCAP's  "currency" is -- what it  
is the board finds most valuable -- and  then find a way to get in  
control of that currency. Obviously, it's  not necessarily the money  
that motivates ASCAP's board. Apparently,  at the present time, score  
composers don't have whatever it is the  ASCAP board wants.

It's an interesting question, I think. If money  isn't ASCAP board's  
currency. What  is?

Kevin


I don't know why anyone would believe that money isn't what rules  at ASCAP.
 
Money, surely, and power, obviously.
 
A long time ago there was one score composer who was brave enough  to take on 
ASCAP single-handed.
 
Maybe you've heard of him.  His name was Bernard  Herrmann.  In a lawsuit 
filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.  The case  went up on appeal on a narrow 
issue.
 
Investigation (such as talking to Herrmann's lawyer, and looking at  his 
papers at USB) revealed what happened after the appeal.
 
ASCAP settled with Herrmann and Herrmann left ASCAP for BMI.   Not even 
Steven Smith, the biographer of Herrmann (A HEART AT FIRE'S CENTER)  knew much 
about the ASCAP lawsuit.
 
Other composers have taken on ASCAP with less promising  results.  Richard 
Warren and Peter Myers.
 
But, if nothing else three score composers took on the great  organization 
and that is something that has not been repeated since Mr. Myers's  case went up 
to the California Court of Appeals.
 
meant to elucidate not castigate
 
 
 
Brian Lee  Corber
attorney at law
_corberlaw at aol.com_ (mailto:corberlaw at aol.com) 
818-399-4735



**************Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with 
Tyler Florence" on AOL Food.      
(http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4&?NCID=aolfod00030000000002)