Thoughts on "Bill of Rights" for Songwriters...

Yesterday, I posted the "Bill of Rights" for Songwriters, which ASCAP put together.

My thoughts on it...

First of all, I agree with the basic thought behind this document.  Writers and those who own copyright on songs definitely deserve these things.  But it should be noted that they already have these things...  We're not covering any new ground here.

My opinion is that documents like this only add to the "us vs. them" craziness of the current music business.  People who own songs and sound recordings, against those who consume them.

Stupid.  Each needs the other.

Stuff like this only gets panties in a wad.  Songwriters and publishers start thinking the sky is falling while consumers start thinking that songwriters are being greedy.

Neither is happening.

There are plenty of solutions to the current state of the music business and isolating consumers isn't one of them.  We should be educating consumers about how the music business works and that they can keep it working by consuming music in certain ways. 

Most people are "sharing" music, not stealing it.  The bottom line might be the same...for now, but it's my belief that people who "share" want to support music...which is why they're passing it along in the first place.

This "Bill of Rights" stuff may be good for getting new members in ASCAP and keeping their numbers up, but in the long run, it's not doing anything to help the real issue and just adds to the "victim mindset" that so many artists, musicians, and songwriters already have.

Don't buy into the "sky is falling" thoughts that a lot of people seem to have right now.  The sky is not falling.  There are more opportunities for musicians, especially independent musicians, than ever before.  And as technology advances, both in how music is used and how that use is tracked, there will be many more opportunities to come.

Feel free to leave any thoughts below...

Comments

[Doc Oakroot]

Hey David,

I had pretty much the same reaction to the BoR. All true, that's what the law says, and totally counterproductive.

If ASCAP wants more members (I'm a member) they should stop treating their existing members like crap, lol.

[Phil Johnson]

You're right on Dave... I'm not even sure what their purpose with this is. But we certainly don't need any more "us vs. them".

I've been saying for years that educating the public is the way to go. They simply don't know how the business works.