I Have Become A Corporate Music Whore
I’m ashamed at myself. Maybe I am, but maybe I’m not. I’m brainwashed so what does it matter?
As a long standing vocal critic of the corporate music world and just about anything releated to George Orwell, things Orwellian or “the establishment,” I’ve sold out as a musician to big brother.
Two years ago, I would have pointed my middle finger to BMI, ASCAP, SESAC or any other music royalty/longshoreman/mob rule giant. Somewhere between then and last month, I signed my name on the dotted line as a songwriter with BMI and can now pretty much guarantee no matter how successful I am as a songwriter, I will never see s*it from the business, in terms of money in my pocket.
It was quite a simple fall, really. Really, it was… One day there was a discrete envelope in the mail with a blue and white pill inside and a note that said, “Don’t question anything. Take the pill. It’s good for you.” So, I did and the next day I awoke to find myself with a copy of a long document with my signature on it stating that BMI now owns me. This is BMI, not BMW, mind you..
I now belong in the ranks of Karla Bonoff, Sting, and Heimi Wisenflieffer.. All songwriters who have sold their blood to the mob. I might as well as shove my guitar up my butt now; it might get me on YouTube. There’s money to be made there..
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April 16th, 2010 at 5:51 pm
Is this a service that pays you royalties if your music is played on the radio, used in TV commercials etc?
Did you have to pay huge fees and will you have to pay huge annual fees to maintain this?
Wisen me up on this.
April 17th, 2010 at 10:40 am
I see that Johnny Porknbeans has also signed on with a music promotion agency. They are spinning his music out to the big labels and also movie producers and producers of TV commercials. Pretty soon, we’ll see him on American Idol. He might someday be hob-knobbing with Barry Manilow. [Wait. That didn't sound quite right]
April 17th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
This did not cost me anything in terms of Japanese Yen or whatever currency we use. they collect royalties and (supposedly) pay me if my registered works of art are played on the radio, bought on the internet, whatever. And if it happens after I die, then they make sure my descendants get money.. Again supposedly.
I signed up with a promotion company too, I signed up before they started charging so at least for a year it doesn\’t cost me anything.
The deal with BMI is that I have to promise not to sign with any other royalty collector at the same time but I don\’t know why I would do that. I would prefer to be with a George Soros-like mob outfit.
April 22nd, 2010 at 8:06 pm
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.
Henry David Thoreau
September 3rd, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Most people start out saying they won’t sell out. But is it really selling out. If someone came to you with a big check and said here we will make you famous for doing what you love. You would have to think really hard before saying no thanks. I see no problem in you signing. Hopefully they won’t screw you. I am sure you are of sound mind enough to read the contract, so your probably ok!