Stiffff Kitties creator, Diane D. Meinke takes ASCAP to task!
Special thanks to our friend Shannon for the banner from myspace.com
July 1st - A message from Sera to all of her fans and friends -please read
Fanbase
press release 7-1-05 by email
July 1st 2005, IceFire International Records presented Sera de Morte'
with her SECOND Air Platinum Plaque Award for the Album project entitled
"Witches Dance" which was originally released in 2002 and received
three grammy nominations in 2003. You can view her new award in the pictures
area of the bands myspace account
http://www.myspace.com/11890156
or you can view the second platinum award plaque below this press release.
Other than this mailer to the Stiffff KItties fan base, friends and management,
we will not be doing a press release about the award as of yet. The previous
press release for the Stiffff Kitties Platinum Award was removed after ASCAP's
legal dept contacted mi2n.com to have them remove all press releases related to
Diane Meinke. PRweb and several other individuals received similar calls from
ASCAP's legal dept. We can only assume it was done as an effort to erase the
evidence and proof of Sera' s worldwide airplay. The proof which substantiates
Sera's unpaid performance royalties claim. The CD is available at Amazon.com
Congratulations again Sera!
ASCAP has still not responded or brought forth any evidence to dispute Sera's
claim of of massive airplay and the performance royalties due her. With TWO
Platinum awards in her possession which required over a MILLION spins worldwide
for each award, it's easy to imagine and do the math to figure just how much
ASCAP has short changed Sera.
This is a very sad situation! We hope that some will never forget her story, nor
her treatment as an ASCAP member. Please read Sera's plea to her fans and
friends below...
Quote from Sera de Morte' aka Diane D Meinke, "We
must move on, and we will...ASCAP will never pay me, all we need to do now is
accept that and then move on. If we continue on this path my dear
friends...everyone around us...our friends, our family will suffer the
consequences. No one is outside of this organizations reach, and I do not want
to be responsible for any of you getting hurt in any way. Sure I am disappointed
and upset, disappointed in an organization that made claims to protect my rights
as a songwriter, but I now I know the truth. And now many of you do as well.
Music is the reason I write, play, sing and perform. It's time to go grass
roots...it is time for us to heal...it is time.
I love my fans for they are my friends...I am touched every time I get an email.
I haven't given up...the band and I have been successful in spreading the truth
about our situation and trust me when I tell you that we are not singled out or
alone in this royalty issue. ASCAP has a grip on this industry like you wouldn't
believe. They are very powerful, very...but so are we. I believe in Karma...and
the day will come when ASCAP gets back every single thing they deserve for the
countless people they have hurt, stolen from and lied to. I am asking for all of
you to please let go of this fight...certainly we will not forget, but please
let go and then we can all press on to more positive things. I will get
out on tour to see you all as soon as I can...I will figure out a way! I love
you all...thank you for your support! Thank you for each and every email,
letter, and phone call you made to me, and to ASCAP and PRweb on my behalf. I
will never forget it, nor ever have the proper words to thank you enough. Sera"
UVI Records
VMG Worldwide
Sera de Morte' "Witches Dance" Air Platinum Award
Released 2002 - received three Grammy Nominations
Stiffff Kitties "Mya's, Book of the Dead" Air Platinum Award
Released 2003 - received three Grammy nominations
Press release link - They erased it!
The above link above does not work any longer, ASCAP's legal dept is responsible for having it removed in yet another place! You can read the article here...
Active Press release link
Listen to the David Lawrence Show with Special guest Diane D. Meinke the creator of the Stiffff Kitties broadcasted on June 10th 2005 on XM radio & Sirius Satellite. Find out the real story on ASCAP's questionable business practices (a non-profit organization where the buck stops in their pocket???) Discover how they extort money from venues but don't pay the songwriters and publishers what is due them!?
Full Show (click to listen)
Podcast (click to listen)
Join the music revolution!
"KISS MY ASSCAP" with David Lawrence- Stiffff Kitties new track (right click to download)
-Please feel free download, burn, & share this song and it's message!-
ASCAP performance report for same period as the Air Platinum Awards!
This is the "Air" & or Promo Platinum that the Stiffff Kitties creator received from the "International Music Licenser's Trust" for the achievement of over One Million Plays. "Mya's Book of the Dead" achieved this Internationally, and surpassed One Million by late 2004. Yet...ASCAP claims no surveyed performances for that period??? Unfortunately, this is, and has been a problem...for many many artists for a very long time.
The Stiffff Kitties creator, Diane D Meinke has over 26 songs working worldwide, beside this project! Even worse yet, the Stiffff Kitties NEVER received any royalties from ASCAP for ANY of their live performances NOR for anything else for that matter. Zippo, Ziltch, Nadda!!!
What does this mean??? If you are an artist/songwriter, this is what you have to look forward to if you are a member of ASCAP or BMI! I wish we could show you a scanned in cancelled check...but there has been NONE!!!
UVI Records, Inc.
If you want to do something about this please email us or visit the bands http://www.myspace.com/11890156 website & join the Stiffff Kitties Group and voice your opinion.
info@undergroundvisionsinc.com
LISTEN TO 1st PROSHOW RADIO #1
(comic relief radio with Host "Uben Had")