[Dixielandjazz] ASCAP & The Black Songwriters

[Steve Barbone]

For a very interesting story about how ASCAP and Melrose Publishing screwed
Jelly Roll Morton, see: (paste it all into your browser)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/specials/chi-99jellyrollpart2,1,6322846.s
tory?page=1&coll=chi-newsspecials-hed

Interesting that Morton was denied membership in ASCAP until 1939. And
Melrose paid him a total sum of $87 and change for royalties on all of his
compositions.

Back then, Blacks were routinely denied membership in ASCAP. Who got the
royalties from their work? The music publishing companies, and or the ASCAP
member who copyrighted the song.

Is it any wonder Blacks may have sold songs for $25 to ASCAP members or
publishing companies? Shoot, that's more than they would have made
otherwise. Is it any wonder that whomever has the ASCAP credit for
songwriting prior to 1940 is suspect?

Jelly Roll Morton died in grinding poverty because of the policies of ASCAP
and Melrose et al. 

I know Louis became a member, but am not sure when he was admitted.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone