edmann Posted February 27, 2004 Share Posted February 27, 2004 Greetings All - having just left ASCAP after 16 years - I am looking to affiliate either with BMI or SESAC. I will greatly appreciate any thoughts that anyone may have on this - I know each PRO has their strenghts and weaknesses...I know enough about ASCAP to know that it is not the place for me - BMI has been recommneded...but I know very little about SESAC. thanks in advance Ed Mann Ed Mann Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dak Lander Posted February 28, 2004 Share Posted February 28, 2004 Can't really help but I'm curious as to the reason for leaving ASCAP. I'm with them as both writer and publisher. Not really happy with their service but I've heard that BMI is no better & SESAC is quite a lot tougher to affiliate with. Our Joint "When you come slam bang up against trouble, it never looks half as bad if you face up to it." The Duke... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edmann Posted February 28, 2004 Author Share Posted February 28, 2004 ASCAP - I just do not like the way that they operate. Those at the top have and do make arbitrary self-serving decisions w/o the processes of Board of Directors involvement, and the organization is run as a monarchy/dictatorship. The minutes of important meetings are not available to members for viewing, they pick up almost ~0~ use of of instrumental music in their scans, those at the top, including minor executives etc are obnoxious and hostile toward members. They have lost track of previously registered works of mine, etc - there is more but last year after doing a lot of careful analysis and comparing notes with other members and ex-members I realized that ASCAP was in no way operating in my best interests for the work that I do, and the universal recommendation was the BMI was worlds better, altho not without its own flaws. Ed Mann Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robmix Posted February 28, 2004 Share Posted February 28, 2004 That's interesting to hear you say that Ed. I've always felt the same about BMI and have heard enough horror stories about their accounting practices to know that I will never join BMI. I guess give SESAC a try. Rob Rob Hoffman http://www.robmixmusic.com Los Angeles, CA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dak Lander Posted February 29, 2004 Share Posted February 29, 2004 Originally posted by edmann: ASCAP - They have lost track of previously registered works of mine, Thanks Ed, I've had the same problem quoted above, and it seems like there are many who don't give a damn whether I'm affiliated with them or not. I've had contact with one really nice, accomodating lady with ASCAP who actually called me back several times to see if things were ok. I too may have to look hard at SESAC. Our Joint "When you come slam bang up against trouble, it never looks half as bad if you face up to it." The Duke... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeyBored Posted March 4, 2004 Share Posted March 4, 2004 I am a BMI member and have been VERY happy with the service I've gotten there (once I was an established wrtier, that is). I've been happy with what they pay on as well as how much they pay. I would recommend BMI. If you're thinking of SESAC talk to Linda Lorence in NY office. She is a great person and a real straight shooter. I have met and spoken with Doug Wood who was on the ASCAP board and, imho, was a most impressive guy who really had a good perspective on how to fix the system as to not weigh it toward aging hit songwriters. I do know they were not making his life easy there. I don't know what happened to him but if he is still there, I would bet that the ASCAP situation is better than it would be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edmann Posted March 6, 2004 Author Share Posted March 6, 2004 Originally posted by KeyBored: I have met and spoken with Doug Wood who was on the ASCAP board and, imho, was a most impressive guy who really had a good perspective on how to fix the system as to not weigh it toward aging hit songwriters. I do know they were not making his life easy there. I don't know what happened to him but if he is still there, I would bet that the ASCAP situation is better than it would be.thanks for the BMI-SESAC input, KeyBored. I have corresponded with Doug Wood. He is a great guy and a real progessive and fair-minded thinker. It baffles me why he wastes (imo) his time trying to clean up ASCAP. They do not deserve him (again imo). I hope that he has had some success because they (ASCAP) were doing everything that they could (above and below the belt) to render him powerless. The problem with ASCAP is the rampant corruption that that has become accepted as business-as-usual. That was my take when I started digging in and looking more closely at the organization that was supposed to be looking out for the better interests of their membership. Ed Mann Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillWelcome Home Studios Posted March 10, 2004 Share Posted March 10, 2004 That is all a shame to read. ASCAP pays better, and tracks more stuff, and I thought about changing to ASCAP. Bill "I believe that entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you're an idiot." Steve Martin Show business: we're all here because we're not all there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drumtek Posted March 11, 2004 Share Posted March 11, 2004 Can anyone weigh in on SESAC...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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