my guess is that this is still a carryover from the old paradigm. If the old paradigm still worked, the publishers would be making big bucks from music sales, and they wouldn't have to bother the little guys.

But, we've already discussed the phenomenon of how people now see music as being free... both in terms of downloading recordings, and hearing live performances... so the river of money to the publishers has stopped.. but they still have to make payments on the palaces they live in.

It will be interesting to see how the current trend of many unpublished artists making their music available online without necessarily forming any relationship with BMI/ASCAP/SESAC plays forward.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ey71h8ep047758h/AAC12jNM0Hz9Q8zsh5iDeqNHa?dl=0