WE’RE ALL PIRATES HERE
Jun. 24th, 2008 04:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
defrogITEM [via Threat Level]: Just when you thought the RIAA couldn’t get any weirder, they are now demanding that America’s radio stations pay them license money to play music, because broadcasting music without paying for it is stealing.
As a licensed FCC operator, I am amused by this story for a couple of reasons:
It’s a silly idea, but worth mentioning because it really is an indicator of just how desperate the RIAA is getting for cash. Digital downloads are the new cash cow, but it’s not as big a cow as CDs, so they’re even turning on the one industry that helped make the music business the giant dinosaur it is. Some argue that it’s only fair, since Webcasters have been held to a double standard for years, but then I never supported the Web radio royalties rule either.
The other reason to post this, of course, is that The Onion broke this story SIX YEARS AGO.
Uncanny!
Mock the future,
This is dF
#####
EDITED TO ADD [June 26]: The National Association of Broadcasters is fighting back – by playing the Protectionist Patriotism Card. In a new print add, the NAB says that they shouldn't have to pay royalties on records because three of the Big Four are owned by GAWDAMM FOREIGNERS who will suck up American money and export it to Japan or something. Sigh.
As a licensed FCC operator, I am amused by this story for a couple of reasons:
1. This argument is as old as radio itself. The first broadcast stations that played records were sued by everyone from record companies to concert musicians and venue halls on the fear that if you played records for free on the radio, no one would ever buy records or go to concerts, and musicians who played live music on the radio would be out of work. By the 50s, record companies relied so much on radio for promotion that they paid DJs to get them to play records (which was illegal, as it turned out).
2. Actually, broadcasters already pay royalties to songwriters associations like ASCAP, BMI and SECAM. And since many bands and singers today write at least some of their own material, it’s somewhat disingenuous for the RIAA to claim that artists aren’t getting paid for broadcast music.
2. Actually, broadcasters already pay royalties to songwriters associations like ASCAP, BMI and SECAM. And since many bands and singers today write at least some of their own material, it’s somewhat disingenuous for the RIAA to claim that artists aren’t getting paid for broadcast music.
It’s a silly idea, but worth mentioning because it really is an indicator of just how desperate the RIAA is getting for cash. Digital downloads are the new cash cow, but it’s not as big a cow as CDs, so they’re even turning on the one industry that helped make the music business the giant dinosaur it is. Some argue that it’s only fair, since Webcasters have been held to a double standard for years, but then I never supported the Web radio royalties rule either.
The other reason to post this, of course, is that The Onion broke this story SIX YEARS AGO.
Uncanny!
Mock the future,
This is dF
#####
EDITED TO ADD [June 26]: The National Association of Broadcasters is fighting back – by playing the Protectionist Patriotism Card. In a new print add, the NAB says that they shouldn't have to pay royalties on records because three of the Big Four are owned by GAWDAMM FOREIGNERS who will suck up American money and export it to Japan or something. Sigh.
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no subject
on 2008-06-24 07:29 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2008-06-25 02:06 am (UTC)People will not buy new songs or albums that they can't listen to in advance. Provide them with an easy mechanism to preview your product, and they will buy it. It really is that simple.
no subject
on 2008-06-24 08:32 pm (UTC)I really like your writing style, plus I noticed we have a few things in common: a love of fandom, as well as (I think) us both being Americans living in different countries.
Why are you living in Hong Kong? Are you an ESL teacher? I'm a PC Volunteer. You're welcome to friend me, or not--как хочешь (as you like)
no subject
on 2008-06-25 02:15 am (UTC)Yes, I am an American by birth. No, I'm not a teacher. I'm an editor and journalist covering the telephones industry (and related technlogies). I've been here for a little over 12 years, and I'm here because I followed my future bride back here when it was time for her to leave the states. For I am nothing if not romantic.
Ukraine, eh? I've never been (yet), and everything I know about it is from Andrey Kurkov novels, so it'll be nice to get a second opinion.