[HANASHIR:14905] The Future of Music

[Jeff Klepper <jeffklepper...>]

Friends,

There is a raging debate about music and intellectual property which relates
very closely to our discussion of copyrights and permission.

I refer you to:

http://www.futureofmusic.org/

Another provocative website is:

http://www.illegal-art.org/

This is not a debate about whether artists should be compensated for their
creations.  It is about a broader subject:  who really "owns" the little
bits of stuff that swirl around us, blended together over generations and
which serve to create what we call "culture".

Just think for a moment how different our world would be if The Bible was
protected by copyright.  Or the works of Mozart.  Or the words and music of
Hava Nagila?  

Woody Guthrie was happy when others sang his songs.  He once said, "Aw, he
just stole from me but I steal from everybody!"  Some of Woody's most famous
songs used the melodies of well-known folk tunes.  (Ditto for Bob Dylan,
btw.) Yet, Ascap (see below) tried to sue the Girl Scouts for singing 'This
Land is Your Land' without paying royalties.

Adrian Durlester is absolutely correct in his call for a National Jewish
Music Clearinghouse, or the creation of a Jewish "ASCAP".

One organization which is perfectly positioned to help with such an
undertaking is the National Foundation for Jewish Culture.

http://www.jewishculture.org/

This is not something to be undertaken lightly!  There would surely have to
be a conference and continuing discussion and debate on "The Future of
Music" as it relates to us.

jeff klepper

==============================================================
One of Woody's most important lessons is that History is remembered best
when it is set to music (the following was found on the Web):

The Ascap Song (To the Tune of Mickey Mouse)

Who controls the music from "c-sharp" to shining "c"?
        A-S-C-
        A & P
        A-S-C-A-P!
Who's got Woody Guthrie spinning in the cemet'ry?
        A-S-C-
        A & P
        A-S-C-A-P!
Pay it up! (shout: "Pay it up!")
Pay it up! (shout: "Pay it up!")
Forever let 'em get a royalty! (shout: "Tee!  Hee!  Hee!")
They got all the lawyers 'cause they got the dough-re-mi.
        A-S-C-
        A & P
        A-S-C-A-P!

So be sure to pay your dues, by Royalty Decree,
        A-S-C- (etc.)
So They can send more lobbyists to Washington D.C.
        A-S-C- (etc.)
As - Cap! (Duck solo: "BMI!")
As - Cap! (Duck solo: "BMI!")
You never get to sing without a fee! (big bass solo shout: "Fie! Foe! Fum!")
(slower:)
 Now it's time to say goodbye to all our revelry.
(real slow:)
        A  -  S  -  C  - - -
        (spoken solo:)  "See you in court!"
        A  -  and  -  P  - - -
        (spoken solo)  "And please pay promptly"
(Full orcestration, five part harmony, and all kinds of things:)
A - - - S - - - C - - - A - - - P - - - !

Copyright Justan O. Thereditor (c) 1996




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