[cma-l] Royalty payments

[Marilyn Hyndman]

Trevor,

I agree this discussion is important. We work with a youth music 
magazine on some occasional programming.

The magazine also profiles up and coming bands, musicians etc and they 
were relating to us how surprised they were that print publishing 
outlets expect bands to pay for any coverage, they had always profiled 
for free.

It might be useful to ask musicians and bands what they think and if 
they would relate their experiences.

Best wishes,

Marilyn

Marilyn Hyndman
Northern Visions/NvTv
23 Donegall Street
Belfast
BT1 2FF

Tel: 028 9024 5495
Fax: 028 9032 6608

NvTv
Belfast Community Television
Free-to-Air on Channel 62/Freq:799.276MHz
Live on line: www.nvtv.co.uk

http://www.northernvisions.org

On 18 Nov 2008, at 11:15, Trevor Lockwood wrote:

 > 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