Discovery Corners Composers in Music Royalties Battle
Moderator: James Steele
Forum rules
For discussion of the music business in general from studio administration, contracts, artist promotion, gigging, etc.
For discussion of the music business in general from studio administration, contracts, artist promotion, gigging, etc.
- James Steele
- Site Administrator
- Posts: 22786
- Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2004 10:01 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: San Diego, CA - U.S.A.
- Contact:
Discovery Corners Composers in Music Royalties Battle
Just saw this article posted Facebook by ASCAP. Thoughts? Hopefully, they won’t get away with this.
https://variety.com/2019/music/news/dis ... 203434924/
https://variety.com/2019/music/news/dis ... 203434924/
JamesSteeleProject.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Mac Studio M1 Max, 64GB/2TB, macOS Sequoia 15.5 Public Beta 2, DP 11.34, MOTU 828es, MOTU 24Ai, MOTU MIDI Express XT, UAD-2 TB3 Satellite OCTO, Console 1 Mk2, Avid S3, NI Komplete Kontrol S88 Mk2, Red Type B, Millennia HV-3C, Warm Audio WA-2A, AudioScape 76F, Dean guitars, Marshall amps, etc., etc.!
Mac Studio M1 Max, 64GB/2TB, macOS Sequoia 15.5 Public Beta 2, DP 11.34, MOTU 828es, MOTU 24Ai, MOTU MIDI Express XT, UAD-2 TB3 Satellite OCTO, Console 1 Mk2, Avid S3, NI Komplete Kontrol S88 Mk2, Red Type B, Millennia HV-3C, Warm Audio WA-2A, AudioScape 76F, Dean guitars, Marshall amps, etc., etc.!
- MIDI Life Crisis
- Posts: 26277
- Joined: Wed May 18, 2005 10:01 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Contact:
Re: Discovery Corners Composers in Music Royalties Battle
Yeah, my winds player does a lot of stuff on Sponge Bob and alerted me.
2013 Mac Pro 2TB/32GB RAM
OSX 10.14.6; Track 16; DP 12; Finale 28
LinkTree (events & peformances)
Instagram
Facebook
MIDI LIFE CRISIS
OSX 10.14.6; Track 16; DP 12; Finale 28
LinkTree (events & peformances)
MIDI LIFE CRISIS
- HCMarkus
- Posts: 10375
- Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2006 9:01 am
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: Rancho Bohemia, California
- Contact:
Re: Discovery Corners Composers in Music Royalties Battle
Top tier won't be hurt. Little guys, SOL. Typical... (redacted political rant here)
- MIDI Life Crisis
- Posts: 26277
- Joined: Wed May 18, 2005 10:01 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Contact:
Re: Discovery Corners Composers in Music Royalties Battle
It's at moments like these that I cherish being an "old fashion" journeyman composer, beholden to no corporate a-hole suits.


2013 Mac Pro 2TB/32GB RAM
OSX 10.14.6; Track 16; DP 12; Finale 28
LinkTree (events & peformances)
Instagram
Facebook
MIDI LIFE CRISIS
OSX 10.14.6; Track 16; DP 12; Finale 28
LinkTree (events & peformances)
MIDI LIFE CRISIS
- mhschmieder
- Posts: 11384
- Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2005 10:01 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: Annandale VA
Re: Discovery Corners Composers in Music Royalties Battle
...and just as I was thinking of submitting some stuff for the animal/nature oriented shows...
iMac 27" 2017 Quad-Core Intel i5 (3.8 GHz, 64 GB), OSX 13.7.1, MOTU DP 11.34, SpectraLayers 11
RME Babyface Pro FS, Radial JDV Mk5, Hammond XK-4, Moog Voyager
Eugenio Upright, 60th Anniversary P-Bass, USA Geddy Lee J-Bass, Yamaha BBP35
Select Strat, 70th Anniversary Esquire, Johnny Marr Jaguar, 57 LP, Danelectro 12
Eastman T486RB, T64/V, Ibanez PM2, D'angelico Deluxe SS Bari, EXL1
Guild Bari, 1512 12-string, M20, Martin OM28VTS, Larivee 0040MH
RME Babyface Pro FS, Radial JDV Mk5, Hammond XK-4, Moog Voyager
Eugenio Upright, 60th Anniversary P-Bass, USA Geddy Lee J-Bass, Yamaha BBP35
Select Strat, 70th Anniversary Esquire, Johnny Marr Jaguar, 57 LP, Danelectro 12
Eastman T486RB, T64/V, Ibanez PM2, D'angelico Deluxe SS Bari, EXL1
Guild Bari, 1512 12-string, M20, Martin OM28VTS, Larivee 0040MH
- mikehalloran
- Posts: 16174
- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:08 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: Sillie Con Valley
Re: Discovery Corners Composers in Music Royalties Battle
Good luck with them enforcing it backwards. Let's hope the resulting lawsuits will force them to find new corporate overlords.
The above opinion is my own. I do not speak for anyone else, most especially my employer.
The above opinion is my own. I do not speak for anyone else, most especially my employer.
DP 11.34; 828mkII FW, micro lite, M4, MTP/AV USB Firmware 2.0.1
2023 Mac Studio M2 8TB, 192GB RAM, OS Sequoia 15.4, USB4 8TB externals, Neumann MT48, M-Audio AIR 192|14, Mackie ProFxv3, Zoom F3 & UAC 232 32bit float recorder & interface; 2012 MBPs (x2) Catalina, Mojave
IK-NI-Izotope-PSP-Garritan-Antares, LogicPro X, Finale 27.4, Dorico 5, Notion 6, Overture 5, TwistedWave, DSP-Q 5, SmartScore64 NE Pro, Toast 20 Pro
2023 Mac Studio M2 8TB, 192GB RAM, OS Sequoia 15.4, USB4 8TB externals, Neumann MT48, M-Audio AIR 192|14, Mackie ProFxv3, Zoom F3 & UAC 232 32bit float recorder & interface; 2012 MBPs (x2) Catalina, Mojave
IK-NI-Izotope-PSP-Garritan-Antares, LogicPro X, Finale 27.4, Dorico 5, Notion 6, Overture 5, TwistedWave, DSP-Q 5, SmartScore64 NE Pro, Toast 20 Pro
Re: Discovery Corners Composers in Music Royalties Battle
Some article I saw recently stated that Discovery made about $25 million in music related royalty payments last year. This move if fully implemented will save them that expense.
The CEO’s bonus that year was $120 million.
What royal asshats....
The CEO’s bonus that year was $120 million.
What royal asshats....
Mac Studio | 96 GB RAM | OS 15.4 | LIVE 12 | CUBASE 14 | DP 11 | MOTU Interfaces | Waaay Waaay Too Many Plug-ins (but I'm improving!)|
http://www.gesslr.com
- monkey man
- Posts: 14072
- Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:01 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: Discovery Corners Composers in Music Royalties Battle
I don't understand how they could get away with this, let alone the retrospective aspect of it. 

Mac 2012 12C Cheese Grater, OSX 10.13.6
MOTU DP8.07, MachFive 3.2.1, MIDI Express XT, 24I/O
Novation, Yamaha & Roland Synths, Guitar & Bass, Kemper Rack
Pretend I've placed your favourite quote here
- MIDI Life Crisis
- Posts: 26277
- Joined: Wed May 18, 2005 10:01 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Contact:
Re: Discovery Corners Composers in Music Royalties Battle
My understanding is that you can sign away and/or split your publisher share but never the writer’s share. My composer pal’s at Disney have that kind of split. In order for the Dick-scurvy channel to acquire those rights requires a buyout and you can’t force anyone to that, especially retrospectively, you can only stop using their product (depending on the agreement already in place).
Essentially they are saying all works are works made for hire. They can have that as their model going forward but not change the existing works because they say so.
Essentially they are saying all works are works made for hire. They can have that as their model going forward but not change the existing works because they say so.
2013 Mac Pro 2TB/32GB RAM
OSX 10.14.6; Track 16; DP 12; Finale 28
LinkTree (events & peformances)
Instagram
Facebook
MIDI LIFE CRISIS
OSX 10.14.6; Track 16; DP 12; Finale 28
LinkTree (events & peformances)
MIDI LIFE CRISIS
- HCMarkus
- Posts: 10375
- Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2006 9:01 am
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: Rancho Bohemia, California
- Contact:
Re: Discovery Corners Composers in Music Royalties Battle
Correct, but Discovery is threatening to replace music they don't own all rights to with its owed stock music. I am sure Discovery Channel show producers are ecstatic over this possible move. /sMIDI Life Crisis wrote:Essentially they are saying all works are works made for hire. They can have that as their model going forward but not change the existing works because they say so.
- MIDI Life Crisis
- Posts: 26277
- Joined: Wed May 18, 2005 10:01 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Contact:
Re: Discovery Corners Composers in Music Royalties Battle
Fine. Go for it. LolHCMarkus wrote:Correct, but Discovery is threatening to replace music they don't own all rights to with its owed stock music. I am sure Discovery Channel show producers are ecstatic over this possible move. /sMIDI Life Crisis wrote:Essentially they are saying all works are works made for hire. They can have that as their model going forward but not change the existing works because they say so.
2013 Mac Pro 2TB/32GB RAM
OSX 10.14.6; Track 16; DP 12; Finale 28
LinkTree (events & peformances)
Instagram
Facebook
MIDI LIFE CRISIS
OSX 10.14.6; Track 16; DP 12; Finale 28
LinkTree (events & peformances)
MIDI LIFE CRISIS
- mikehalloran
- Posts: 16174
- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:08 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: Sillie Con Valley
Re: Discovery Corners Composers in Music Royalties Battle
DP 11.34; 828mkII FW, micro lite, M4, MTP/AV USB Firmware 2.0.1
2023 Mac Studio M2 8TB, 192GB RAM, OS Sequoia 15.4, USB4 8TB externals, Neumann MT48, M-Audio AIR 192|14, Mackie ProFxv3, Zoom F3 & UAC 232 32bit float recorder & interface; 2012 MBPs (x2) Catalina, Mojave
IK-NI-Izotope-PSP-Garritan-Antares, LogicPro X, Finale 27.4, Dorico 5, Notion 6, Overture 5, TwistedWave, DSP-Q 5, SmartScore64 NE Pro, Toast 20 Pro
2023 Mac Studio M2 8TB, 192GB RAM, OS Sequoia 15.4, USB4 8TB externals, Neumann MT48, M-Audio AIR 192|14, Mackie ProFxv3, Zoom F3 & UAC 232 32bit float recorder & interface; 2012 MBPs (x2) Catalina, Mojave
IK-NI-Izotope-PSP-Garritan-Antares, LogicPro X, Finale 27.4, Dorico 5, Notion 6, Overture 5, TwistedWave, DSP-Q 5, SmartScore64 NE Pro, Toast 20 Pro
- HCMarkus
- Posts: 10375
- Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2006 9:01 am
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: Rancho Bohemia, California
- Contact:
Re: Discovery Corners Composers in Music Royalties Battle
Like I said... Typical.But music industry sources say Netflix and its producers appear to target mostly young composers or those who aren't as much in demand as, say, Burwell or Cutler — and can't afford to pass on the work or complain about the terms for fear of being blacklisted.
HCMarkus wrote:Top tier won't be hurt. Little guys, SOL.
- monkey man
- Posts: 14072
- Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:01 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: Discovery Corners Composers in Music Royalties Battle
Elitism at its finest. 

Mac 2012 12C Cheese Grater, OSX 10.13.6
MOTU DP8.07, MachFive 3.2.1, MIDI Express XT, 24I/O
Novation, Yamaha & Roland Synths, Guitar & Bass, Kemper Rack
Pretend I've placed your favourite quote here
- MIDI Life Crisis
- Posts: 26277
- Joined: Wed May 18, 2005 10:01 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Contact:
Re: Discovery Corners Composers in Music Royalties Battle
How about a boycott? All ASCAP and BMI composers and publishers exclude these networks and steaming services from using ANY of their music? No more Star Wars, Hobbits, shoot ‘em ups. Nada! IOW: no content for you. They cannot replace scores on anything except what they control the rights to.
End of story.
End of story.
2013 Mac Pro 2TB/32GB RAM
OSX 10.14.6; Track 16; DP 12; Finale 28
LinkTree (events & peformances)
Instagram
Facebook
MIDI LIFE CRISIS
OSX 10.14.6; Track 16; DP 12; Finale 28
LinkTree (events & peformances)
MIDI LIFE CRISIS