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NBCNews reports that changes are coming for the music industry, and Big Music is not happy about it.
For years, in cases where ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) or BMI (Broadcast Music Inc) did not represent all of the authors of a song, they would issue fractional licenses and presume that the licensee would ensure others were paid. Instead, the Justice Department's new rules would require "full-work" licenses.
We've all heard stories about some song-writers or lyricists being cut out out of the proceeds of music sales because they were not members of these big licensing agencies, never signed a release of rights, or a variety of other issues. Big Music (ASCAP and BMI) more or less ignored these artists, assuming they would get their share via some other means. Of course, in the end, that usually meant somebody pocketed all the money and somebody else didn't get paid. That's not how it is supposed to work.
BMI said in a statement that it would fight the change in court, while ASCAP said it would press for legislative reform. The groups said in a press release that the decision "will cause unnecessary chaos in the marketplace and place unfair financial burdens and creative constraints on songwriters and composers."
This all arose after Big Music claimed that the internet music streaming services were under-paying for song streamed, and cheating artists. They complained to the DOJ and wanted to renegotiate a 1941 era consent decree. It appears the DOJ agrees that some artists were indeed being cheated, but not necessarily by streaming services.
Some artists refuse to let their music be streamed simply because they believe it is being pirated at alarming rates. Other artists are waking up to the music industry's games.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Friday August 05 2016, @04:01PM
The change came when artists stopped being musicians, but instead looked pretty, could be auto tuned, and sell a lot of music to teens too young to make rational decisions. Then those 'artists' are pushed out and replaced with a fresh batch at about the time the buyers of their 'content' graduate from high school, or in five years, whichever comes sooner.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Thexalon on Friday August 05 2016, @04:45PM
No, it didn't change when that got started, because looking good on stage has been part of a musician's job (particularly female musicians) since at least somewhere around the Renaissance, when music really began to escape the confines of the Catholic Church. Whether you're talking about minstrel's outfits or Beethoven's crazy hairdo or Elvis' jackets or Lady Gaga's weird dresses, that's part of doing the job.
It's still true today in genres other than pop music too, and for musicians who are not really catering to the teenagers: Do you think Yo-Yo Ma wears a tux to perform because he feels like it?
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 06 2016, @08:05AM
Elton John's hat and glasses... and Kiss all painted up.