Well...

You've accused me of many things...

You insinuate things that are not true...

You're pathetic.

You'd rather try to win an argument than speak truthfully and honestly..
That is sad ! I could list all your misquotes and the times you try to cloud what I say...but why bother...

You sound more and more like a sad little man Brian...

Where did I say I was "unhappy" with the service I was getting from BMI...

Where....NOWHERE !

I said I hadn't gotten any checks...
I didn't say that made me unhappy...It doesn't

You never, ever said that the payments were figured on ammount of plays..
So...BMI should (by your template) only be paying those with ALOT of plays....To hell with the Just Plain Folks...
I'm sure the members here will find that enlightening...

So...musicians should be put out of work in places where they might perform songs by JPF members because ASCAP and BMI arent sending enough money to your "friends" that are getting alot of play.

You appear afraid to address the premise you raised about the nite of James Taylor songs...

I'm not surprised...it's an idiotic, undefendable situation...

Apparently you didn't work in major market radio, Brian...

Maybe College radio doesn't have to pay for PRO licenses....
The radio that I've been involved with(that would be major market radio) certainly do and have separate agreements with the different PROs involving different pay schecules and rates etc.

\See....you could learn alot from me !

No flip flops, Junior....You're just confused because you're dealing with a man who(like most people except the completely self-involved and self righteous) will occasionally mis-speak, and then has the audacity to try anc correct a mis-statement.

A snarfling child might call that a "flip-flop", a mature adult will applaud that as being responsible for what you say and admitting an error.

You're not a bad kid...just incredibly short sighted and easily lede.

I, unlike you have had real experience in this arena.

The undeniable fact is that you are supporting a system that has been in place for at least 50 years.
In that 50 years the system you support has collected alot of money from venue owners and apparently not gotten it back to the people they claim to represent.
That we are talking about a few dollars aday...but the fact is that it is not paid at that rate.
Collected annually or semi-annually it's a check for four or eight hundred dollars....
If you're paying BMI and ASCAP...double it !
You don't know how hard it is to write a check like that out of a saloon checkbook !
I do !
You support a system that has a history of not providing $ to the people it claims to represent...

I, by the way, have publishing thru ASCAP as well...

I amvery happy with the way both organizations handle my record and airplay issues...
Those are the reasons I jopined each oprganization..
BMI because I was told that unless I was a member I could not get my songs on the radio..
I signed with ASCAP because I was advised by my label (that has some experience in this area) that it was good to have both affiliations.
After I joined ASCAP, I learned that WGN in Chicago did not like to play ASCAP affiliated material because they had not reached an agreeement with them and were getting beilled about $600.00 per 15 minute segment if ASCAP titles were played.
Your "friend" Alan O'Day will testify to this as he has been a guest more than once on
WGN with my friends Steve King and Johnnie Putman.

My argument is and will continue to be that this is not the time for contracts that appear to only benenfit artists already getting sales and mechanicalss.

If this is indeed about "Just Plain Folks" it should be understood that "Just Plain Folks" that aren't getting much airplay will not benefit at all !

That other "Just Plain Folks" who are working musicians are faced with venue owners who have one more reason to say "our overhead is killing us...sorry...we're gonna have to cut back"

this is a time to remove these idiotic penny ante charges that benefit no "Just Plain Folks" that I know,and hurt many that I do.

But...it's just my opinion...and I'm pretty sure I'm right.

I got 4 e-mails on this....two say I'm badgering you, and two say what the hell is Brians deal ?
It appears that elents of the membership besides me are questioning this deal.

It's a tough business climate right now...this is an impediment that should be removed, not encouraged.

I said in the same breath "where's my money" and "if I got it I wouldn't accept it"

People here know that I am a supporter of the art of songwritingAND that I support the rights of performers.
I think that this situation which you endorse hurts both in very tangible ways.

Every single expense that a clubowner or venue owner incures will be reflected FIRST in budget.
First on thatr list is the entertainment..
It always has been and always will.
That's how things really are, Brian..

Of course, you think that an owner is gonna take time out to attend some cockamamie class to learn why live music is an asset to his business !

I don't know what color the sky is in your world...but it must be beautiful !

I am still waiting for you, who says NO LISTS
intends to get James Taylor paid for that night of James Taylor cover songs you say must be paid for !

I'm not the only one ...

Bob Young