JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum A petition we should all sign

Hi Everett:

A noble endeavor. Songwriters, like Poets, are rapidly creating their own sad fate. I gave some thought about "signing" the petition but since I know nothing about the originators of the appeal, decided in self-defense to let the opportunity pass. My heart was outvoted by my mind due to a deep and significant mis-trust of just about everything connected to the Internet. The same mis-trust is also directed to telephones of all description, television and the movie industry as well as those who control music in all it's many facets. Our world has invested deeply in deception on a broad front. Caveat Emptor is the reigning theme in the United States and probably, everywhere else on Earth.

About a week ago, I was asked to vote on Board Member Candidates for ASCAP's Publishing Organization and I dutifully complied after pouring over the credentials of all the new candidates and the eligible incumbents. With futile resignation, I sent the darn thing back to ASCAP knowing full well that all of these candidates were dining upstairs with silver spoons and that my vote counted for "diddley!"

A few nights ago, I watched the "Masterpiece" presentation about the Bronte sisters, each an author in her own right... forced somewhat to use pseudonyms in order to be published because they were women. Although things have changed for the better it dawns on me the futility of our situation as Songwriters. Just look at our MP3 Page and determine for yourself how prolific so many members of JPF happen to be. Then realize that less than one percent will ever receive serious income from their work.

Forgive my cowardice. It is not that I don't care... I fear the petition will fall on deaf ears... or that my name and e-mail address will be shared with charlatans and crooks, hell-bent to steal my last dime.

----Dave

Online petitions no matter how well intentioned are a waste of time as are all other petitions. When honest they are ineffective. Most, however are simply to compile saleable data to any number of positive and just as often negative sources who will first profit, then used the profit to go against your position to start with. There is really no upside, beyond in a few exceptions, local small community affairs where even then the data is often corrupted to support the desired result of some third party. Dave's cynicism is not only right, it's understated.

But, to be clear, the people asking for the signatures may well be sincere. But we left the world of uncorrupted and effective petitions behind long ago. Sort of like manual typewriters. So still exist but mostly as a symbolic nod to yesteryear.

I guess voting for politicians is much the same, whom ever gets in will line their own pockets first, then their friends, etc. It is not much more than a petition to see which party gets a kick at the can. But if we don't vote, we get what we deserve, a no vote is a yes vote for" we are happy with what we have, don't change anything". Complacency is looked on as surrender to the powers that be. A vote for Trump was the people saying we are not happy with what was going on, a hail Mary vote to shake up the two parties if nothing else. Bullies will continue to bully if no one stands up to them.

Basically We The People are being screwed BIG TIME with everything....
Don't Quit Your Day Jobs...

Brian, your quote for today sort of backs up what I said.

You guys have it pretty much correctly. Having been around all this issue for a couple decades, I have seen it first hand. When I went to Congress in 2006, we were all there for our Lobbying efforts for NSAI. 40 songwriters trying to plead our cases, talk to Senators and Congress people, and basically we were told the "Napster people were there two days before us and they have huge lobbying efforts too."

What you have to understand is that no matter how well intentioned Songwriters and artists are in this. it really is going to make no difference because there is an equal and actually many more forces allied against us that has THEIR petitions demanding exactly the opposite. The public wants and demands and gets most music for free or at totally reduced prices and that is simply never going to change. Once you make things FREE it doesn't go back the other way.

You can sign this or any petitions, stand up and scream, write articles and editorials, whatever you want to do, but that ship sailed long ago. Part of dealing with this is acceptance that it has happened.

MAB

I think the real issue is the attitude that no change can ever happen, everything is a race to the bottom, and that is what we should settle with. Accepting that, now is the norm, and why the state of affairs is how it is. It is called cynicism, and that is part of the problem, not part of the solution.

Fact is we dont know what works or not, all we can do is to stay sharp and keep pushing the agenda, recruit and convince. A petition may or may not make any difference, but is is part of the pushing efforts. Every tug of war has its tipping point.

Well Said!

Sticking to your principles despite the odds is essential. If you don't push back then you have already surrendered, and "they" win by default.

Peace,
TC