ASCAP B.S.

[degenaro]

Here's one for ASCAP: So if I cover All Along the Watchtower, Hendrix style, who gets paid? Bobby D or the Hendrix estate? Did JH pay BD royalties when he covered that song? Did Zeppelin pay any of the bands they covered (and from whom they profited greatly)?

What if your cover song is horrible? Or you throw in a lengthy solo that wasn't in the original? Or you rewrite certain parts? Don't use exactly the same lyrics? Better yet, what evidence is ASCAP going to use against you? Witness testimony? Videotape? If they videotape you and play it in court, can you sue them for unauthorized reproduction in front of a public audience?

How about the uncountable number of blues songs that are basically the same progression? Did the person who wrote that progression get any money? Does anyone even know who it is? At what point does it become creative commons? Should I have to pay the person who wrote Happy Birthday every time I sing it at a birthday party?

Should I pay Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin royalties when their work inspires me? After all, if it weren't for them I wouldn't write a lot of the things I do, the way I do.

Just some questions to ponder

Dylan gets paid, he's the writer. The performing rights orgs are there to collect performance royalties for their members which are writers and publishers. i.e. the guys that cam up with it, and the guys that own the copyright. Hendrix or more specifically his record company most certainly paid.
Zeppelin did, even though in the case of Willie Dixon it took a law suit because they did not credit him and tried to rip him.
There are cue sheets, and other stuff that is supposed to be submitted for the use of others property. What if yo change it? same difference, otherwise why do you think some one like Puff Daddy had to pay for the sonic rape he did to Kashmir.

It's not about any chord progression, that is not copyrightable. What is in the copyright is the melody and lyric.
As for performing something, as an artist you don't pay fo it the venue/promoter pays.

Inspiration has nothing to do with a business using some on else's property...it needs to be licensed, plain and simple. Just like if yo record a CD and cover a tune yo need to pay....

There really is nothing to ponder, you make some wrong assumptions and go from there.
If you really give a shit...read up on it.
http://www.ascap.com/licensing/brochures.html

The idea that an organization trying to enforce the law in the interest of its members (writers/composers/publishers) is somehow the bad guy really escapes me.

Do they really need SkyHigh's 340 a year?? ANY band barely makes ends meet nowadays... I think it's petty... I know I've got nothing at stake, but all the 340's they collect, do guys with original mateial actually SEE any of that revenue if someone takes off w/ your material? Im curious....

Depends, if by original material we're talking about some one like me, who gets airplay on a handful of Jazz stations...prolly not. If we're talking about some one that is on the road, does some radio, prolly yes.
But it's not a matter of needing the 300 a year. look at i this way. On Dog House relatuve to sales I spent 8 % of gross revenue on licenses. As a muso and writer I sure as fuck won't rip off some other muso/writer whether they need it or not. Would you come in my house a make off with my fave JMP just because I haven't used it in month. And if you do, do you expect me to be cool with it?