ASCAP - BMI - SESAC - Let’s keep our cool.
Posted by admin on 11 Feb 2010 | Tagged as: General
A message to songwriters and music venues.
Bruce Hayden points us to an interesting article.
“By the way, read this from Slate. I has a passage in it regarding the
contract you sign with ASCAP: http://www.slate.com/id/2244164/”
The subject of ASCAP/BMI comes up often enough in this business that it’s important for “the little guys” to fully understand the issues, and to realize that these organizations exist for a reason, and they shouldn’t be demonized solely for their existence.
The copyright model is certainly out of date, and some of these organizations’ tactics are indeed harmful in many ways.
That said, it’s important to recognize, as the article points out, that these organizations in some ways DO stand up for the little guy. Sometimes they are insuring that a songwriter with one minor hit doesn’t have his material used by a well-to-do club, restaurant, or chain without any compensation.
How would you feel if one of your songs was being played at Bennigan’s nationwide, and you never received a check?
If you choose to give away your music for free (and some might say your stupid if you don’t, these days) that’s a choice you make. But without PROs fighting for the cause of songwriters [and yes, publishers] you wouldn’t have that choice.
I don’t expect the copyright code to ever catch up with technology and culture, but I hope they make some progress soon. In the meantime, let’s not be adversaries about EVERYTHING.
In Loving Memory - Carolyn Piccotti
Posted by admin on 11 Feb 2010 | Tagged as: General
One of our dear friends and respected house concert host, Ryan Simmons, lost his wife Carolyn from complications due to breast cancer. Carolyn was a big supporter of Beagle Rescue of Southern Maryland. If you’d like to make a donation in her honor, here’s the link.
