With so many radio operators on the brink financially, the performance royalty the RIAA is seeking could be the final blow that forces them to default on loans. Plenty of big banks, hedge funds and venture capital firms have investments in radio, so they should be no less concerned about that possibility than the broadcasters themselves.
Finance is tops in political campaign contributions, well ahead of the healthcare and energy industries, giving them a lot of influence on Capitol Hill. (If you doubt their clout, just consider the bank bailouts.) And as in all industries, much of that money comes in the form of individual contributions from executives.
While many of the major players in finance have a stake in broadcasting, they have virtually no interest in the foreign-owned major labels that control the RIAA.
So why aren’t they interested in the royalty fight?
And why aren’t broadcasters trying to make their creditors aware of the issue?
If all the executives at every financial firm with any stake in radio would write to their own local U. S. Representatives and their states’ U. S. Senators (mentioning their status as constituents as well as contributors, where applicable), as well as to other members to whose campaigns they've contributed -- or perhaps pick up the phone and talk to the appropriate legislative aides -- they could make a real difference. In fact, that could be the very thing we need to tip the scales in radio’s favor!
Finance is tops in political campaign contributions, well ahead of the healthcare and energy industries, giving them a lot of influence on Capitol Hill. (If you doubt their clout, just consider the bank bailouts.) And as in all industries, much of that money comes in the form of individual contributions from executives.
While many of the major players in finance have a stake in broadcasting, they have virtually no interest in the foreign-owned major labels that control the RIAA.
So why aren’t they interested in the royalty fight?
And why aren’t broadcasters trying to make their creditors aware of the issue?
If all the executives at every financial firm with any stake in radio would write to their own local U. S. Representatives and their states’ U. S. Senators (mentioning their status as constituents as well as contributors, where applicable), as well as to other members to whose campaigns they've contributed -- or perhaps pick up the phone and talk to the appropriate legislative aides -- they could make a real difference. In fact, that could be the very thing we need to tip the scales in radio’s favor!