Posted: 26 Dec 2015 4:12 am
Charlie McDonald wrote:If Tony's song does go into a film at some point, isn't it Tony that should be paid for it?Tony wrote:The purpose of ASCAP and BMI for the minuscule artists like me is that the songs are registered with a formal agency and should by chance , some major artist picks up the song or STEALS the song, or it ends up being used in a film, radio, commercial or TV spot, ASCAP or BMI gets a phone call and the dogs are let out of the kennel.
That would seem to be separate from ASCAP's function, so yes, the system is misunderstood or it's not working right.
YES, I would be paid (eventually) , if the song is registered with one of the agencies.
The biggest problem for songwriters is not ASCAP and/or BMI, its streaming outlets and the unfair distribution of money that songwriters are awarded from the stream. Both BMI and ASCAP are in hot negotiations over this with the streaming sites, it's called the Songwriters Equity Bill.
As a member of Rhapsody, streaming outlet, I can stream as much music as I like or can stand, 24/7 , but somehow that doesn't equate to radio airplay or public performance, it's a different beast that appears impossible to tame.I pay $9.99 a month flat rate.
A few months back, Taylor Swift took on Spotify, for this exact topic, some people claimed she was just being too rich and greedy, others said, good grief, I hope she wins because it will change the ground rules for EVERYONE regarding how much they get paid on streaming music.
Pandora, Rhapsody, Spotify etc, have millions upon millions of customers paying $10/month, but yet the stream payouts are not even a blip on the payout chart.
It is said that 1 million registered streams nets a songwriter $90.
Very convoluted to say the least .