THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 1, 1996 TAG: 9608290011
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 21 lines
According to a recent news clip on CNN, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers is going after Girl Scout, Boy Scout and other youth camps for royalties for ASCAP songs that are ``sung around the campfire.''
As a public-relations professional, as a parent and as a citizen concerned with the growing intrusions and pressures being forced on our young people, I must protest ASCAP's thrust. Where is ASCAP's head? For crying out loud, doesn't ASCAP realize what it's doing? With a half-baked scheme like this, is it any wonder that today's youth are cynical, untrusting and belligerent?
I know what ASCAP's line will be - the old jingle of poor, starving composers. Yeah, right!
How much positive PR ASCAP could have garnered by taking the opposite tack.MEL MILLER
Virgiia Beach, Aug. 22, 1996 by CNB