ASCAP however, using wisdom that seems to be typical of the music industry, has just taken a potshot at their foot. Many of us are members of ASCAP but surviving in the music business is difficult so many of us enjoy earning a portion of our income by playing in bands like Rhythm City. By charging us for posting our demos, for which we make no money, they are actually creating another burden for those that actually create income for them. This little effort by ASCAP becomes one just more thing likely to reduce their membership and to discourage participation in song writing and music.

We had our music demos posted here for all of you to hear so you may make an informed decision when hiring music for your next event. ASCAP decided that we need to give them a large sum of money so that the authors of the music we are playing get paid. We are all for that - getting paid for your work is what we all hope for. The venues that hire all bands and DJs pay ASCAP and BMI large yearly fees, as they should, to assure authors and artists get paid. Since it is difficult for them to track musicians and bands individually, this basically works well to cover the fees.  We, on the other hand, posted 30 seconds or so of samples of our work, much like iTunes or Amazon does as an incentive to buy. This works to ASCAP's favor - not against. Amazon and iTunes sell more music because of these samples and hopefully more people hire live music due to these samples in which case the artists get paid more in the end.

We now will have to pay them to get the opportunity to help them get paid.

Foot, gun, shoot.

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