TurnRightAtLost.com
  • Blog
  • Columns
  • Videos
  • Blog
  • Columns
  • Videos

Adam Wants It Both Ways

7/26/2016

Comments

 

Millionaire socialist musicians do not understand the capitalist system that has served them so well... An example of that is Donald Trump's use of Queen's anthem, We Are The Champions, at the Republican National Convention. It worked for Trump in two ways; it was a perfect fit for the WWF-like entry Trump made just as his nomination was complete. "We are the champions, we beat the establishment!"

And two, it caused an uproar over the performance rights of the writers of the song. Who then looked close-minded as they complained that they would not have given Trump, who they consider a homophobe, the rights even if he had asked. The band demanded the RNC 'cease and desist' from any further use of their song, because the Trump campaign organization had not asked for or received permission to use it.

I raise this issue because every election cycle we hear rich, socialist musicians bellyache about conservatives using their music during rallies and conventions. This year a bunch of lefty artists, often ones worth millions who sing about and venerate socialism, while practicing the purest form of capitalism there is, complain that Republicans are using their music without their consent, and that they do not approve of that because Republicans are racist and hateful.

You never hear them tell conservatives not to buy their albums though, do you? Which means they value conservative's money when it serves them, but dismiss them if they publicly enjoy their music.

New Queen lead singer Adam Lambert tweeted,  "If your politics party spends decades treating gay people as second-class citizens, guess what: You don't get to use Freddie Mercury's music at your convention."

Wrong. It is not your private property anymore.

Licensing your art is a purely capitalist way to make a living. Millionaire musicians seem to forget that along with the enormous amounts of royalties comes some compromises. Once you license your songs to ASCAP or BMI, you forfeit the ability to restrict specific parties from playing your songs.

It is no longer purely your song. It is part of a performance contract, in which both parties have rights. Ironically, the licensing program is almost a collective, because it allows the public, other musicians, and the venues, to 'share' the music, while protecting the artists and helping them to collect residuals on their work.

When an artist releases a new recording, they sign an agreement with ASCAP, or BMI, or other licensing organizations to manage the use and compensation of the song. At that point, the artist no longer has the power to pick and choose who plays the music, as long as the terms of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), or one of the three other licensing organizations are being met, they cannot simply deny a person of a political movement the use of the music. Venues like the convention center in Cleveland, pay thousands of dollars in annual performance rights fees so they can have clients play any music they want when holding conventions in their building.

Marketing, like freedom, is a two way street. Artists have to decide, do I want to maintain maximum control over my art, or do I want maximum return on my investment, my talent, by sharing it with the world?

You can't have it both ways Adam.
Comments
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Recommended          Reading

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Too hot to handle!
    Picture
    eBook only $12.99. (click here)
    Picture
    eBook only $14.99 (click here)
    Picture
    eBook only $12.99 (click here)
    Picture
    eBook only $14.99 (click here)
    Picture
    eBook only $15.99 (click here)
    Picture
    eBook only $2.99 (click here)
    Picture
    eBook only $2.99 (click here)
    Picture
    eBook only $14.99 (click here)
    Picture
    eBook only $9.99 (click here)
    Picture
    eBook only $9.99 (click here)

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    April 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    April 2013

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.