Phillip (phil g.) Grigg said...
MAB, speaking of being "tuned out", (which I originally read as "tuRned out"), I can't tell by your response to my question about joining a PRO if you were being sarcastic, or if you were angry. If you were being sarcastic, I get it. If I made you angry, then I owe you an apology. Was not my intent.
But I still have the question. So let me ask it a different way. When; Why; should a writer join a PRO? Is it ONLY about the money? Or are there other reasons to join? Like maybe being able to put "BMI" or "ASCAP" on your business card that you will be handing out to other writers.
phil g.
Phil, I'm sorry, I completely missed this. But don't know how you could have MISSED what I said. The first, was yes, being sarcastic. The second was very detailed about my feelings on ASCAP, BMI and SESAC.
They are COLLECTION AGENCIES. They don't set up writing appointments, don't teach songwriting, don't supply publishers, don't make record deals. They collect money that is being played on terrestrial radio, major television and motion pictures (and with that you STILL HAVE TO EMPLOY THE HARRY FOX AGENCY TO GET PAID) and someone getting a couple million streams, they are good to be a part of.
They all host writers events. They have number one parties. BMI has Jason Blume seminars. They will usually have seminars and classes at things like FRANK BROWN (for extra cost of course), and they have big, cool buildings that people go into and come out of.
But as far as "making you credible" or giving you an edge, I don't see it. People don't sit down and ask "Who are you affiliated with" until a little further into the conversation, but it really doesn't matter that much. These days, trying to have songs and be a writer is like "having buckets of salt water in the middle of the Atlantic ocean in a hurricaine." WE ALL HAVE BUCKETS OF SALT WATER, AND WE ARE ALL TRYING TO GET RID OF THEM. NO ONE CARES!!!
BMI and ASCAP (and SESAC) are good little organizations at one point or another. usually if you have written with a lot of in town writers, have a lot of activity around you and getting close to getting cuts, they are helpful. If you start getting cuts, you HAVE to affiliate with one or the other, so you visit all three and see who you like as a representative.
Aside from that, I cannot tell you of more than four or five times in 38 years that I have really gotten anything out of them. And while I am an ASCAP writer, the only showcase ever put on for me was BMI. So I can't make all the claims about how good one is over another. I've had meetings at all three places, like Bradly Collins, and David Preston at BMI, like Tim Feek at SESAC, and Mike Sistak at ASCAP. But ALL the people I knew who signed me to ASCAP, Tom Long and John Briggs, my main mentor, Ralph Murphy, my friends Herky Williams, and most everyone else I knew over the years are ALL GONE. There are a lot of new people that I don't know, and I rarely go there.
The last time I was there was writing with JOHN BERRY, and that was only because he wanted to use the writers room, which are really nice there. But NSAI has better writers rooms to be honest. I usually just write out of the house because of the traffic and stuff going on downtown.
They are all good organizations but also very limited. If you have a lot going on, they can be your best ally. If you don't have a lot going on, they are not going to be able to do much for you.
That is about all I can tell you. The rest you have to find out what works for you.
I am neither angry nor frustrated. I just know the only one you can depend on is YOU,. and all these organizations have well intentioned people but are in an age of FREE MUSIC. So collection agencies have limited ability to do anything. And in some cases, like suing live music venues, they are doing more damage than good. I'm not pro or con. I just state what they are. And what they are not.
Write songs with a lot of people.
Write with artists.
Write a lot of songs.
Help other people get their music out there.
Network continually.
Repeat the process.
Let the rest work itself out. Or don't.
Don't worry about it.
MAB
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