On the other hand, you can't even trust the bodies that are there to protect writers. This is England: We produced and released a CD of the 'spource' or 'trad' singer Jeff Wesley last year (Rum and Raspberry). When we wrote to MCPS (mechanical copyright) to get a license for the CD we not only told them the track listing, we also gave them all the writers of songs that weren't 'trad' and also the copyright holders. The only copyright holder who was registered with PRS/MCPS was Friendly Overtures to hold the copyright to Alan Burbidge's songs, one of which (Empty Echoes) was on Jeff's CD. They wrote back saying they had no interest in any of the tracks and therefore would not issue a license. The CD is, of course, released and we have to find another way of trying to make sure the copyright holder gets their dues!

Tom Brown