Royalties for musicians? What are you talking about?
Elaine Fine posted this video on her Musical Assumptions blog recently, demonstrating the relative level of importance that government places on music and music performers here in the United States. Listen to Bush’s response to the question posed to him by an Altissimo Records representative, and (more disturbing and surprising) check out the reaction of the audience–laughter and applause! Despite pointing out that music is one of the the United States’ largest exports and that, besides the U.S., the only other countries not paying a statutory royalty to performing artists are China, Iran, North Korea, and Rwanda.
Thanks for finding this clip, Elaine!
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3 Responses to “Royalties for musicians? What are you talking about?”
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Hmmm, as much as I dislike George Bush, I have to admit: I have no earthly idea what a “statutory royalty” is.
Who wants to take a shot at explaining it? Right now. No peeking at wikipedia until after your first attempt.
Good point, Jacque. I’m not sure what this representative means with this comment–do all broadcasters in countries besides the aforementioned pay an annual fee to ASCAP? BMI? Harry Fox? Surely not the countries themselves…
Organizations such as BMI and ASCAP charge “statutory licensing fees” to presenters of recorded music, such as radio stations, internet sites, movies, TV, etc. They are usually calculated on a per play basis. These fees are distributed to publishers, composers and lyricists as royalties for their work.
In the US there is no system in place to pay performance royalties to musicians on recorded works. In the UK, for instance, PPL charges presenters of recorded music for musician’s performances and distributes royalties to them. PPL does not work on behalf of musicians recording in the US.
Music First Coalition (musicfirstcoalition.org) is working to get US musicians performance royalties.
The AFM has the Sound Recording Special Payments Fund that pays union musicians a depreciating payment for five years based on the union contracted record sessions they do. Record labels that are union signatories contribute to this fund.