The Obama Administration is backing the Performance Rights Act, which would require terrestrial radio stations to pay royalties to record labels when they play the labels' songs. Under current US law, radio stations pay royalties to music publishers and writers, but -- unlike in much of the world -- not to owners of sound recordings. In a letter to PRA backer and Senate Judiciary Commitee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Commerce Department General Counsel Cameron Kerry (Sen. John Kerry's (D-MA) brother) said US government support for a public performance right in sound recordings dates back to 1978. The bill has been approved by the House and Senate Judiciary Committees and is awaiting floor action in both bodies.
Commerce Department Letter on Performance Rights Act
Thursday, April 1, 2010
3 comments:
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Great, make these station pay. Potentially more money for the actual performing artist. These station make it extremely difficult for new emerging artist to even get any type of airplay. So I think such and act is a step in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteThe current system is outdated! Good for The Performing Rights Act's backers to notice this and move forward to correct the situation.
ReplyDeleteno, not great. This bill will essentially shut down all the smaller, more diverse stations such as college radio stations (the 500$ cap they would have to pay is HUGE when their average total budget is only a few thousand dollars), as well as african american and hispanic stations, which also have lower revenues, but still represent a large voice in their communities.
ReplyDeleteLeave it to the industry-friendly Obama administration to back the corporate giants and crush the little guys. Way to go, I can't believe I voted for you.