T
Taikun
Guest
ASCAP, BMI & SESAC are all Performance Rights Organization...and they pretty much do the same thing. BUT...I am leaning towards BMI...but I've heard ASCAP is better! Is this true post your thoughts?
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warzone (nov 5-9) signup begins in...
Cleverwon
Paradigm P
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 74
I'm Ascap. Ive heard Ascap is better too, but BMI and Ascap are both the same shit retty much. Idk much about sescac tho.
Peep this:
Interesting commentary below which may help you make your decision.
I am a writer on "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" which spent eight weeks at #1 last year. To make a long story short, here is the history of the royalty payments on that song:
January 2004-ASCAP $6K/BMI $20K (ASCAP matched)
April 2004-ASCAP $119K/BMI $135K (ASCAP matched)
July 2004 ASCAP total $99K/BMI $60K (drum roll please)
BMI REFUSED TO MATCH!!!!!!! I have received some vague and nonspecific mouthings about making the difference up next quarter, but I will believe that when I can spend it. In the meantime my cowriter has $39K that I don't have, and may never have, for the same song, same writer's share, no publishing, etc.
Its extremely difficult to get to the point in this business where a writer can have a hit, still less one like this, and it is hard to discribe the feeling when you are SCREWED out of just compensation for your work. The best weapon of the PRO's is secrecy, so I feel it is my duty to let as many people in our business as possible know about this. Do I think ASCAP is any better? No I don't. There is a long and ugly history of underpayments on their part as well.
We as writers and publishers need two things to happen. First, we need a scale of pay for performances that is understandable and accountable, so that we can look at spins reported on the charts and know how much our pay will be. Second, we need the right to be members of any or all PRO's at the same time, JUST LIKE OUR PUBLISHERS.
We should be able to designate which group will administer our performances on a song by song basis, and if the PRO's want us to be exclusive, they can pay us a signing bonus.
Please let as many people as possible know about this, those of you with contacts in Congress please let them know as well. Advice is appreciated(anything except "shut up Bo and take the Cadillac and be grateful").
Silence will only let them do this to all of us.
Thank you,
Don Rollins
Peep this:
Interesting commentary below which may help you make your decision.
I am a writer on "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" which spent eight weeks at #1 last year. To make a long story short, here is the history of the royalty payments on that song:
January 2004-ASCAP $6K/BMI $20K (ASCAP matched)
April 2004-ASCAP $119K/BMI $135K (ASCAP matched)
July 2004 ASCAP total $99K/BMI $60K (drum roll please)
BMI REFUSED TO MATCH!!!!!!! I have received some vague and nonspecific mouthings about making the difference up next quarter, but I will believe that when I can spend it. In the meantime my cowriter has $39K that I don't have, and may never have, for the same song, same writer's share, no publishing, etc.
Its extremely difficult to get to the point in this business where a writer can have a hit, still less one like this, and it is hard to discribe the feeling when you are SCREWED out of just compensation for your work. The best weapon of the PRO's is secrecy, so I feel it is my duty to let as many people in our business as possible know about this. Do I think ASCAP is any better? No I don't. There is a long and ugly history of underpayments on their part as well.
We as writers and publishers need two things to happen. First, we need a scale of pay for performances that is understandable and accountable, so that we can look at spins reported on the charts and know how much our pay will be. Second, we need the right to be members of any or all PRO's at the same time, JUST LIKE OUR PUBLISHERS.
We should be able to designate which group will administer our performances on a song by song basis, and if the PRO's want us to be exclusive, they can pay us a signing bonus.
Please let as many people as possible know about this, those of you with contacts in Congress please let them know as well. Advice is appreciated(anything except "shut up Bo and take the Cadillac and be grateful").
Silence will only let them do this to all of us.
Thank you,
Don Rollins
T
Taikun
Guest
cleverwon said:
Congrats. OK so how did you know...what BMI was paying? Did that come in your ASCAP statement? or was that a BMI writer who had same percentages point on the song?...I have heard that BMI monitors the radio better?...but then if both of them technically do the same thing...they should have similar results and BMI SHOULD match too!
Also you statement was that from radio spins alone? Or does that include TV and albums sales?
Thanks
slik da relic
RS Jedi
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 1
i just wanted to bring this outta the woodwork... since we're all "wiser" now, and have new members, i think its time to put this back on the table.
da relic
da relic
UNORTHODOX
Father Timeless
Funny, I was thinking about this the other day.
My consensus Ive gathered so far comes down to "customer service". BMI is more about their heavy earners, and there some controversy about their rights w/contract. Something to the tune of you're locked in untill the contract is up
ASCAP is supposed to be alot more approachable. They work for you.
thedreampolice
A backwards poet writes inverse.
I am on ASCAP and Ivory Hill is on BMI, we have had better luck with ASCAP
UNORTHODOX
Father Timeless
What can you expect, working w/ascap?
slik da relic
RS Jedi
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 1
yea.. i'd like to know as well.. im with BMI, but i havent done shit there yet.. and where does Sesac fit in all of this? can u be with ascap or bmi, AND sesac... or is it just one? i know just one with BMI and ASCAP.
da relic
da relic
thedreampolice
A backwards poet writes inverse.
Well the best part about ASCAP is that I can get someone on the phone if need to ask questions. It can be overwhelming at first. And Ascap is cheaper and easier to deal with.
UNORTHODOX
Father Timeless
Some digging brought up this (Leans heavy for 1): http://home.earthlink.net/~deankay/TheBigDifference.html