--This post is a few days late. I thought I put it up and didn't. Sorry--
All I can say is it's about damn time. Just got a Google Alert for this story in the Washington Times announcing proposed legislation that would end the terrestrial radio exemption from performance royalties. It's about fucking time. I'll admit, before I subscribed to Sirius and XM I really didn't care about the issue at all. Now I do and I am happy to see bipartisan sponsorship of bills in both the House and Senate to set this thing right.
The National Association of Broadcasters naturally came out in opposition to this legislation and I am sure that they are determined to kill this deal, but there were some interesting quotes.
First up is this little gem;
"After decades of Ebenezer Scrooge-like exploitation of countless artists, the RIAA and the foreign-owned record labels are singing a new holiday jingle to offset their failing business model," NAB Executive Vice President Dennis Wharton said in a statement.
"NAB will aggressively oppose this brazen attempt to force America's hometown radio stations to subsidize companies that have profited enormously through the free promotion provided by radio airplay," he said.
"Scrooge like" and "hometown radio". Right. Clear Channel just whacked 20 or so people this past Friday in the Cincinnati market. Scrooge like? The week before Christmas? One of the DJ's let go had 30 years, another had 12. Unknown numbers of off air employees were let go as well.
"Merry fucking Christmas, you're all fired!"
On the hometown radio front Clear Channel leads the way in multi-casting. That's the art of broadcasting content from one location to many stations across the country. Local my fat hairy ass.
While this legislation is out there please keep in mind that there is currently also a bill that would make the exemption from royalties law. One of these bills will pass and become law. Which one will it be? Well, money talks and bullshit walks in our democracy so my money is on the exemption. We'll see.
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