A couple of weeks ago, I shared a predicament I'm facing with some of you. I've been a member of ASCAP since 1995 - I joined when I was recording my first album 'I Should Be Flying' in Nashville. Last October, our little company of artists celebrated as we took over operations of collaborative music site ccMixter. ASCAP is attacking ccMixter saying "we're undermining copyright and artists livelihoods." Those of you who know me well know this is totally the opposite of the truth!
Today, ccMixter announced the Freedom To Share Remix Event in response to ASCAP. I hope this project, and the music bound to be created through the process, has a positive, educational impact on my friends at ASCAP -- that are clearly speaking untruths from a place of ignorance.I'm encouraging my friends, fans and family to participate. Write a poem or song about artistic expression, the collaborative process, freedom, inclusion, evolution -- and record it and upload it for the project. If you don't have the ability to record your poem yourself, share it with me under Creatieve Commons non-commerical license -- and I just may record for you! You will see yourself that collaborating doesn't diminish your copyright, but rather, increases partnership.
Peace.