Word: ascap
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1940-1949
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Main line of defense for ASCAP in the battle of the air-waves is the fact that in the mid-twenties its right was recognized under the copyright law to assess broadcasters for etherizing its music. The Society was for a while satisfied with a five per cent cut. But when networks incorporated and, finding themselves not liable to royalty fees, proceeded to juggle their books so as to lessen the amount paid by individual stations, ASCAP began to feel double-crossed. Hence the new contracts placing a seven and one-half per cent dent on income from all chain...
...other side of the musical fence stand the networks, arguing that ASCAP has already dug too deeply into radio's coffers and now seeks only to pursue its advantage. Furthermore, they say charges should be made upon the music presented, with no fee blanketing all sponsored broadcasts. Radio men maintain that the absence of ASCAP music will be amply taken over by the offerings of BMI composers and arrangers, supplying tunes from the pens of artists from Bach and Beethoven to Bob Crosby...
Just which party capitulates within the next year is a question to be answered by the listening public. If America's 50,000,000 radio sets start turning more and more to ASCAP-contracted independent stations, and advertisers follow the trend, the networks will have to throw in the towel. But if the combination of new BMI, old American, and foreign tunes suits listeners' tastes, the Society of Composers will find itself in an awkward position. Whatever the battle's outcome, American music should emerge with a new lease on life...
...pity that the ASCAP-radio feud will probably prevent any of the tunes from staging comebacks. If it weren't for the strike that the networks are planning to impose on all Society-owned songs starting next week, practically any one of the tunes might become a hit for the second time in its life. The strike will be a blessing in one way; we will not be fed a diet of "America, I Love You," the 1916 edition of "God Bless America...
...Buck as "the nearest thing to a genius we have in this country," walked to the centre of the stage. As Irving Berlin began singing, the audience rose, joined in the music by the hundreds, then the thousands, until 15,000 voices were swelling God Bless America, an ASCAP song...