CREDIT’S DUE: If you’re playing an album...

CREDIT’S DUE: If you’re playing an album and you want to know who wrote a particular song, you can always look at the label copy on the center of the record. But what if you’re playing a cassette or a compact disc? Writer credits may be somewhere on the package--but it’s just as likely that they won’t be.

The 6,000-member National Academy of Songwriters is trying to do something about this. The group wrote to all major record companies in July, seeking uniform writer credits on all configurations of recorded music--albums, cassettes, CDs and music videos. A&M; recently became the first major label to agree to the group’s request.

Sam Lorber, who has been in charge of the campaign, estimated that less than half of recorded cassettes list writer credits. He called it a case of industry custom not keeping pace with changes in consumer buying habits. More dollars are now spent on cassettes and CDs than on traditional vinyl albums.

Kevin Odegard, executive director of the National Academy of Songwriters, told Pop Eye that this campaign is just a warm-up for the group. “We wanted to establish good working relationships with the label heads around town before we tackled stickier, more substantive issues like DAT (digital audio tape), home taping and the Source Licensing Bill. The issue of credits is something that’s easy for everyone to swallow. It’s an entry point into a communicative relationship with the record industry.”