RIAA Notebook ~ A Challenge Arises

A CHALLENGE ARISES 9/26/2000
Source: http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-246239.html

A growing number of voices in the artist and technology communities are questioning whether the RIAA is taking too prominent a role in this process. Some groups are discussing challenging the RIAA-organized collective's power in front of the U.S. Copyright Office, which is ultimately responsible for selecting an agent to distribute the royalties.

The dissatisfaction underscores what continues to be a contentious three-way relationship between the record industry, technology companies and the artists whose work supports both businesses.
These groups, which include trade associations and lobbying groups for Webcasters and independent artists, are concerned that an RIAA-dominated group would not represent the interests of independent artists should there be a conflict between artists and labels.
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Question: How does SE complete/coordinate with ASCAP or BMI?

In traditional radio, the record companies don't get paid royalties every time a song is played. Instead, the composers or publishers of a song get a small royalty, which is collected and distributed by groups such as ASCAP and BMI.

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