[cma-l] Royalty payments

[Trevor Lockwood]

This discussion is important, and perhaps we have a real opportunity for 
change.

We provide support for emerging musicians, but how many songwriters, 
musicians and publishers understand the system of IPI numbers, or 
ISWC/ISRC or the nightmare of contractual pitfalls they face?

Does CMA, by which I mean the membership, perhaps through its board of 
directors, have an obligation to ensure that our volunteers, many of 
whom are struggling young musicians, get a just reward for their efforts 
- by at least giving them some understanding of the system?

We need to closely examine the sampling systems used by PPL and 
MCPS-PRS, VPL let alone ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and all the rest in this 
confusing global world. At present it would appear to be biased towards 
the larger producers. The AP1, AP2A, AP2 schemes are further evidence of 
weighting towards the already successful with MCPS charging publishers 
three times as much to collect for AP2 as from the bigger boys.

At each stage the small guys lose out. The excuse often used is cost of 
collection. Perhaps it's time we looked at how we can help, by 
collecting the cash ourselves, and paying our musicians ourselves.

We provide invaluable platforms for the music industry. An industry 
whose giants are struggling to maintain a stranglehold. We provide an 
alternative. Our volunteers and our listeners are at the heart of 
today's music industry and we have an obilgation to ensure that they get 
just compensation. Failure to do so will mean we remain comfortably 
playing games, in a cosy club that likes esoteric emergence but does 
nothing to help.

There is opportunity for community stations, for the whole movement. We 
are increasingly important. Our playlists are extensive, not restricted 
like those found at the BBC and commercial stations. Let's explore how 
we can help the musicians in those lists gain just rewards.

I'm just waking up to reality. Our little station must also become a 
registered publisher, after all the programmes on our podcast/listen 
again facility are all home produced, then given away, for nothing. 
After that we need to create a system that ensures little producers get 
a proper share of the rewards, and are not just thrown the scraps left 
in the black box once all the big boys have filled their pockets.

Am I talking revolution here? Do we have the first signs of the worm 
turning? Will anyone else pick up the flag and walk beside me? Forward 
into battle!

Trevor Lockwood
-- 
http://www.felixstoweradio.co.uk
Felixstowe Radio Community Interest Company
Registered Number 6419058
61 Gainsborough Road, Felixstowe IP11 7HS