Comments on: BMI’s record revenues

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Thu, 25 May 2006 17:24:27 +0000

In trying to understand all of this..are you telling me that the average garage band that plays at pool parties, weddings and such are expected to get a license? Do all bars have to get licensure or is there certain criteria?

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 18:52:13 +0000

As an admitted cynic I say that all endorsemntes of artists to these cartel bullies and mafia type racketeers, the endorsemntes are purchased or are an exchange of favors.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 03:44:17 +0000

Surely the Cartel underlings are watchin sites like this one for damage control through the spread of “facts” and half truths, not realizing that the good old days when most folks were ignorant are over. We are too savvy today.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 03:38:20 +0000

Wonder how much is this guy and Manilow are getting paid for BMI public relations.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Tue, 20 Sep 2005 04:53:40 +0000

The Phantom Poet Graffito had to mob-up again to find the loot: Spoken X Digital Media Group in association with Literati Di Graffito X is now a made man. Yes, you heard it right and eXclusive–Literati X is now
a BMI writer/composer; the principals will be split throughout the universe! A special thanks to Al Capone who collected in an era where
no one wanted to give up the cheese. . .

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 21:10:27 +0000

Most performing rights royalties are paid to writers who have songs played on radio (including college and public radio,) as well as to songwriters who have music peformed on broadcast and cable television. All of these were “starving, independent artists” at one point in their lives. For example, I saved a quote from Barry Manilow which said, “BMI got me through some very lean times when I was a struggling songwriter back in New York City. They supported and encouraged me back in the early days. They have been very important to me.”

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 21:01:22 +0000

Most songs written before 1922 are in the public domain, but recent arrangements of those songs still may be in copyright. For more information, see http://www.pdinfo.com/. BMI operates on a non-profit making basis, with about 86 cents of each dollar of revenue being paid to songwriters and publishers. Generally, ownership of songs and royalties are split 50/50 between songwriters and publishers, but many songwriters publish their own works. BMI licenses the public performance of music; this has nothing to do with CD sales or the profits of record companies. BMI pays absolutely nothing to record companies. BMI is audited by by Deloitte & Touche. All 6.5 millions songs in the BMI repertoire are posted on the BMI website under the “repertoire search” at the lower left of the home page. www.bmi.com. BMI also provides a repertoire information hotline at 1-800-800-9313 where you can request information on as many as 20 song titles per call.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 20:45:50 +0000

1) that percentage isn’t that high. so there is no fraud.

2) usually writers get 75% of a song. this is in a copublishing deal. where a song is split up 50-50 as writer and publisher share.

the music publisher however only gets a percentage of the publisher share because the writer has a publisher as well.

in an administration deal writers may get up to 90%

so there is no fraud.

3) false. actual music auditors audit these people. you know it , i know it: there is no fraud.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 20:40:47 +0000

dude.
do you know the difference between a “performance rights organization” and a “record label”

these are 2 different markets. they are not in anyway related to each other.

the labels are saying the truth. the labels earn nothing from a performance rights societies earnings.

these earnings go to “the music publisher” thus the writer.

In addition to these, these performance earnings are mainly for major acts and major songs who has found a way to be placed in a commercial or a tv series episode or a movie. they do not represent the starving independent artists. never.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 18:04:19 +0000

Does anyone know:

- what percent of the licensed songs are in the public doamain. The guess here is, very high. If true, there is fraud.

- how much of the money go to the songwriters (songwriters, not publishers) allegedly represented? The guess here is, very low. If true, there is fraud.

- who audits these people and where are the audits found by songwriters and the public? The guess here is that they audit themselves and the audits are nowhere to be found. If true, there is fraud.

- how BMI licensess such as a radio station or a bar in Alabama and in Japan know which songs they can performed under the BMI license? The guess is that they have no way because licensee do not receive a catalog of songs. If true, there is fraud.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 10:45:39 +0000

…this is including figures that show decreasing numbers of new releases by the music industry.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 00:40:14 +0000

If they are making this much, obviously, CD’s are being purchased.

Plenty of Cd’s, by JQ public.

So …
Truth ….
Money IS leaving our hands …
Going to the Labels …

True by their OWN STATEMENTS.

Who is responsible for paying the artists ??
The Labels.

So then ….
If money is getting to the “Labels”, and the artists are
going broke … who is really doing the “stealing” ??

Dreddsnik
Boycott-RIAA.com

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 18 Sep 2005 23:58:15 +0000

At $728 million, you can tell they are being devestated. Remember, this is but one of the big 4 cartels. You can expect the others to be doing about the same. Geeze, I could stand with a little devestation like that.