CRB Issues Stay Of Execution: July 15

[DToTheJ]

The deadline for the new royalty rates to go into effect has been moved up two months to July 15 from May 15.

More details:
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/05/02/ap3678911.html

 

[oaktree]

Keep in mind ... The "governor" (the CRB) didn't "pardon" anybody. This is no time for dancin' in the streets or to get complacent over this issue.

This also is no "pre-cursor" to the CRB losing it's grip, nor did the fact that the NAB -- which has stood by quietly on this issue, suddenly galloped in on a white horse to save webcasters. It merely doesn't want to see terrestrial AM / FM stations get nailed for the "digital" fee they have seen waived for promoting music on the air.

The labels and artists, as well as SoundExchange and the RIAA now have two months to circle the wagons, while webcasters now have 30 days from today to file comments (and that means LITTLE webcasters too, not just the giants.)

Write to your legislators - both representatives and senators.

This isn't done legislation at all. There will be a tremendous amount of buttonholing, lobbying and high-priced legal chest beating from the RIAA, SoundExchange and labels over this in the days and short few weeks ahead.

We got a break ... not a victory on this.

I look forward to the "Day of Silence" and trust it will still go on, despite this momentary "reprieve."

 

[4dude]

Well we are winning (Slowly but surely?)

 

[dbdigital]

Well we are winning (Slowly but surely?)

And this time webcasters will have the NAB lobbyists on their side.

When John Simson of SoundExchange told reporters that ""Terrestrial broadcasters should be paying performers", meaning that they should pay royalties the same as webcasters, the NAB listened and agreed to join the fight.

This will be no less than a "smackdown" of lobbyists: The RIAA in one corner, the NAB in the other.

db

 

[jcolletta275]

This will be no less than a "smackdown" of lobbyists: The RIAA in one corner, the NAB in the other.

Ooh... I should make a "Fight of the Century" poster for that! ;D

 

[dbdigital]

This will be no less than a "smackdown" of lobbyists: The RIAA in one corner, the NAB in the other.

Ooh... I should make a "Fight of the Century" poster for that! ;D

Yeah, a poster showing the RIAA getting a 'folded chair in the face' would be great. ;D

db

 

[dbdigital]

Well, according to the article entitled "Labels, Artists Want Terrestrial Performance Right" (www.radioandrecords.com) the battle between the RIAA and the NAB is, indeed, looming.

But I thought this point was interesting:

"Calling any performance right for recordings a "tax" on broadcasters, NAB spokesman Dennis Wharton tells Billboard.biz that there is a great value to record companies and artists through airplay on commercial radio stations. Broadcasters already generate enormous revenue for labels and artists through that airplay."

If the 'airplay is compensation' argument is true for terrestrial broadcasters than it is equally true of webcasters and I hope this point is made as both groups duke it out in Congress.

db

 

[CTListener]

Has satellite radio weighed in on this issue yet? XM and Sirius pay lower fees than what are being proposed for webcasters, but (obviously) more than terrestrials pay. With Internet radio perceived in some circles as a major threat to the viability of satellite radio down the road, what do you think of the possibility of sat radio throwing its support to the CRB on the webcasting issue, perhaps for a future break on its own rates (agreed to in secret, with no paper trail, of course)?

Unethical? Well, yeah, but we're talking about the same people who sold out-of-spec FM modulators after submitting in-spec modulators for FCC testing and have played fast and loose with repeater rules since Day 1.