The songwriter dilemma

Songwriters are the unsung heroes behind American music. Every song you hear comes from the heart and mind of a songwriter. Songwriters create the notes and lyrics on the page. This is the copyright in the musical composition that any artist can record. Unlike recording artists, however, most songwriters are not famous and they do not make money by touring and selling merchandise. Many songwriters do not have salaries, benefits and other reliable sources of income. They rely on public performance royalties to earn a living, feed their families and pay the rent."
 - Elizabeth Matthews. CEO, ASCAP, on need to reform the ASCAP consent decree that governs how songwriters are paid.

I love great art, no matter the medium.