JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum Another ASCAP Controversy

Bob,

If you think BMI is doing such a bad job, why did you give them the rights to represent and collect for your songs? Sounds like your beef is with the people YOU chose to do that job. If you aren't going directly to them to fix the issue, why are you complaining?

Ironically, you're saying you don't WANT them to collect your money.. so why sign up? Is it okay if they collect money for radio and TV airplay? What if radio stations have to run even MORE ad's to cover the costs of those license fees? Guess we should give THEM a pass from paying as well right? And of course the record labels are going to produce less copies of the CD's because they have to pay you mechanical fees, so I guess we should give THEM a pass too... so let's do away with the Harry Fox Agency as well.

In fact, if every artist and songwriter ALWAYS worked entirely for free at all times, all those who make money off of them would make even MORE money and probably would use this free labor and creative product even more.. gosh.. that sounds like Utopia! You and the illegal file thieves have a lot in common I guess.

It's bizarre that you think some businesses should get a free pass, and others should not. It's also odd that you would presume to give up all the PRO blanket license earnings that writers and publishers have gotten over the years, while still expecting other people to pay similar fees (like radio licenses) or mechanical fees via the Harry Fox Agency. Why make the distinction? Because you aren't directly getting paid, no one else should either?

My friend Alan O'Day gets performance royalties for his songs Rock and Roll Heaven, Angie Baby and Undercover Angel. I guess he should just give up this income because Bob Young things he isn't entitled. My friend Harold Payne also gets enough income from his PRO to allow him to be a full time performer. We have a lot of members in ASCAP that have gotten discretionary income from the program that pays writers when they can demonstrate airplay/live performances but didn't get picked up on a survey. Should they give up what might be their only income from that work because you say so?

Of course, I guess since Joe Smith in Omaha thinks all artists should play live for free because that promotes their album sales, that YOU shouldn't be compensated for live shows anymore either right? Or does your opinion have more weight than his for some reason?

There's a system in place. It's a system which hundreds of thousands of writers have signed on to as the best way to represent their interests in collecting reasonable compensation for their work. None of them was forced to do so, including you. Rather than having the government put a system into place that WOULD require excessive bookkeeping by venues and artists, our elected officials determined a blanket fee system was the best shot at being fair to all parties. I know artists/writers who make their living off of their earnings from the PRO's. But you've decided they don't deserve this income right? Yet for some reason, you're affiliated with a PRO?

You are welcome to take income due you for your work or pass it up. No one cares if you do that for yourself in any way. How about not making that decision for everyone else?

Brian