BMI FINDS A NEW WAY TO SCREW THE SONGWRITER!

 

For almost 50 years I’ve been a member of Broadcast Music, Incorporated, the organization that collects radio and TV performances for songwriters and publishers. I was a staunch supporter of it as a songwriter, when I was General Manager of Warner Brothers Music, and when I ran Irving-Almo Music.

 

When I went into business for myself 30 years ago, Ron Anton, my friend and senior VP at BMI, named my company Wayne Art Music, which I’ve always been proud of. Now I have to look at the organization with a big question mark, because of a practice they recently initiated.

 

Up until the last quarter, if a songwriter earned less than $50.00 BMI wouldn’t issue a check until the amount owed exceeded that minimum. Now they have raised the minimum amount to $250.00, FIVE TIMES THE AMOUNT IT WAS A FEW MONTHS AGO, before they issue a check!

 

Are they crazy? Yeah crazy like a fox, it sounds like someone in accounting came up with this brilliant idea to hold onto millions of dollars of the songwriters diminishing royalties for as long as possible…and who’s going to complain?

Most songwriters who are affected by this are too old; too tired, or too stoned to fight for what is rightfully theirs…so they let it slide.

 

I’m sorry, but I can’t let this go! In recent years I’ve lost money due to illegal downloads, piracy, unscrupulous record and publishing companies. I never expected an organization who is supposed to be on the songwriter’s side to treat us all like this!

 

What can we look forward to in a year the minimum being raised to $1000.00…$2,000 dollars? Can you imagine the tens of thousands of songwriters, publishers, and estates who will be affected by this?

 

 

Copyright 2009 by Artie wayne  https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/about-artie-wayne/

 

For MORE WAYS BMI SCREWS THE SONGWRITER! click onto  https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2009/04/08/more-ways-bmi-screws-the-songwriter/