HD Bragging Causes ASCAP Royalty Push

[KB1OKL]

Those HD advocates have gone and done it.

As Kurt Hanson reported in RAIN recently:

The ASCAP has proposed to the Radio Music License Committee that HD2 radio pay a music license royalty. Broadcasters maintain that since they're generating no revenue from their HD2 channels, a royalty isn't justified. In making their case, the ASCAP cited research, long ago debunked, that predicted 30 million HD receivers in the market by 2012.

It looks like the record industry is going to stuff the braggadocio that the HD Alliance calls promotion down their throats.


http://insidemusicmedia.blogspot.com/2008/07/hd-bragging-causes-ascap-royalty-push.html

 

[Kelly]

Both ASCAP and BMI have been contacting stations over the past year trying to convince them to move over to "blanket" music licensing deals, rather than channel by channel. Their push-point has been with streaming, additional HD channels, and future ways of delivering content, station owners would be better served with a blanket licensing agreement.

If you are a group owner of TV or radio, negotiating a blanket agreement is indeed much less than ala carte'. If I owned a stand-alone station, then a blanket arrangement wouldn't make sense. That being said, I'm willing to bet that most IBOC stations are owned by larger groups anyway.

 

[KB1OKL]

Both ASCAP and BMI have been contacting stations over the past year trying to convince them to move over to "blanket" music licensing deals, rather than channel by channel. Their push-point has been with streaming, additional HD channels, and future ways of delivering content, station owners would be better served with a blanket licensing agreement.

If you are a group owner of TV or radio, negotiating a blanket agreement is indeed much less than ala carte'. If I owned a stand-alone station, then a blanket arrangement wouldn't make sense. That being said, I'm willing to bet that most IBOC stations are owned by larger groups anyway.

I don't think that's the point, the IBOC Alliance has said that there will be 30 million HD receivers out there by 2012 : and Ascap believes it and is pushing for their dough. ;D You might try reading the whole article.

 

[LinoNYC]

Another is the ongoing series of bi-weekly screeds by Jerry One-Note. I didn't try connecting with Jerry's blog while I was in Thailand, I figured that I could pretty much predict his rant cycle and could just resume where I left off when I felt inclined.

You see, Mr DelColliano goes through these cycles and every two-three weeks it's HD radio in his sights. It gives characters such as yourself and pocketlint a turn to gas-off in unison.

And now we bring you a simple question: If the satellite radio companies have been unable to make pay radio work for $13.00/mo what praytell inspires the thought that consumers will spend considerable more than that for wi-fi/WiMax. The automobile is going to be one of the very few places where the internet won't be that important, why?, consumers view it rightly as an interactive technology which has limited application while driving. In fact it may even be banned in autos if it becomes a distraction. There is already talk of such legislation.

Bottom line here is that consumers already have a source of massive free personal choice of aural entertainment -the I-Pod along with podcasting, Expecting them to spend extra for it is a demonstrated failure.

Besides, preprogrammed fixed-time mass media is just so twentieth century.

Lino

 

[Play Freebird]

And now we bring you a simple question: If the satellite radio companies have been unable to make pay radio work for $13.00/mo what praytell inspires the thought that consumers will spend considerable more than that for wi-fi/WiMax.

Bottom line here is that consumers already have a source of massive free personal choice of aural entertainment -the I-Pod along with podcasting, Expecting them to spend extra for it is a demonstrated failure. Besides, preprogrammed fixed-time mass media is just so twentieth century.

You may have answered your own question. Put WiMax in a car (combined with a short-range WiFi or Bluetooth "bridge" to relay data to the driver's and passengers' portable devices) and this will enable iPods to download updated audio, video, or text content while users are on the road. They already have Internet access at home, in the office, at Panera and Starbucks, etc. but up until now, it's been missing from their vehicles -- their home away from home.

Of course, there's so much more information that becomes available with a bidirectional mobile Internet connection than with subscription satellite radio -- VOIP, real-time traffic data, and real-time netcasting to name just a few. Many users will find mobile Internet access useful even when the car is parked, for example golfers or boaters who want to check the weather radar map before heading out.

The advantage here is interoperability -- a feature that's sadly lacking in HD receivers because of iBiquity's stranglehold on their "intellectual property".

As you've pointed out in another current thread, new technology is usually introduced at a high price and targeted at upscale users, but eventually becomes a mass-market commodity. Why should WiMax be an exception?

 

[KB1OKL]

You see, Mr DelColliano goes through these cycles and every two-three weeks it's HD radio in his sights. It gives characters such as yourself and pocketlint a turn to gas-off in unison.


Lino

I'll say one thing Lino you certainly have a way with words ;D
Jerry usually writes about how greed is killing terrestrial radio in one way or another and both CC and HD fit that bill to a capital T. So actually maybe he is saying things that the entrenched radio community doesn't want to hear. Both he and John Gorman have been there, done that and know what they are talking about, perhaps sometimes they come a little too close for comfort?

pocketlint haha!

 

[LinoNYC]

As you've pointed out in another current thread, new technology is usually introduced at a high price and targeted at upscale users, but eventually becomes a mass-market commodity. Why should WiMax be an exception?

Eventually that may be true, but there are basic differences between a manufactured product and a common carrier access product. For a product maker there are economies of scale associated with large scale popularity which speed-up the process of recouping r&d tooling up etc.

When you are talking about a product such as internet access the provider is in a sort of continuing race as both subscribers and type of use increases. I go to Bangkok several times a year and that huge international city is a case in point. There are way more wifi hotspots, often free there than in NYC but connection speeds are actually getting slower than when I first went there in summer 2006. My apt there has DSL furnished by TOT the state telcom provider it's often slower than the dialup I had two year ago. Eventually they will catch up, but it's a good case in point as to what happens when a technology pushes the existing infrastructure over the limit.

Assuming that wimax ever becomes as ubiquitous as OTA radio the bandwidth required for even acceptable audio is dramatically higher than for such apps as voip, data, weather. Someone will have to pay for this ongoing expansion so don't expect it to ever be free. Then there is the issue of bandwidth, and server capacity on the content end, it's one thing for a Live 365 type "station" serving a few dozen or even hundreds, much more complicated when you want coverage that rivals ota radio.

Oh, and waiting in the wings are the interests of ASCAP, BMI, AFTRA.

Lino

 

[Carmine5]

Whoa, looks as if posters here have migrated over to Jerry's blog, taking pot shots at HD Radio and each other.

So much passion over such a non-starter.

C5

 

[clouseau]

Whoa, looks as if posters here have migrated over to Jerry's blog, taking pot shots at HD Radio and each other.

That's pretty much because the comment section over there is a complete sewer. Since Jerry does know radio PROGRAMMING, you'd think he could use some of the talent he obviously used to use for radio phoners on his comment board. However I suspect if he got the least bit picky, he'd have very few if any comments.

If you start airing dog-meat callers, pretty so you have a dog-meat station.

I would suggest that carries over to Blog Comments.

Clouseau

 

[hipporadio]

I’m getting tired of seeing Mr. Jerry DC dogged by the current corporate radio apologists, has-beens, and wannabes that made him an acclaimed and wealthy man over a decade ago... Now they're smarting from their penny stock certificates, and come on this forum to trash this fine man to sieze some pitiful reclamation with NO class or candor whatsoever - and let's not forget to mention a lack of simple respect... SHAME ON YOU and JUST STOP IT... You’re making fools of yourself!

 

[4dude]

It looks like the record industry is going to stuff the braggadocio that the HD Alliance calls promotion down their throats.

Good i hope it makes them disable thier HD crap!!

 

[LinoNYC]

I’m getting tired of seeing Mr. Jerry DC dogged by the current corporate radio apologists, has-beens, and wannabes that made him an acclaimed and wealthy man over a decade ago... Now they're smarting from their penny stock certificates, and come on this forum to trash this fine man to sieze some pitiful reclamation with NO class or candor whatsoever - and let's not forget to mention a lack of simple respect... SHAME ON YOU and JUST STOP IT... You’re making fools of yourself!

Ol' friend, don't get worked up over this, Mr delColliano puts his views up for public scrutiny and they are thus , not inviolate.

I don't get involved with the comments section of blogs, I leave that for the likes of pocketlint and that gaseous quack from the Swindler State, I do often read them and even his those who largely agree with him suggest "get some new material".

I as an outsider have no personal interest in those whom Mr DelColliano regularly excoriates but it's obvious that his tirades go beyond that nebulous concept of "tough love" -often used as a cover for vengeance.

Then there are the numerous "he doesn't get it" moments such as:


Of course, anyone who actually believes HD has any kind of future in radio is smoking something very powerful.

HD is a failure by every measure.

Virtually no one owns HD radio. And there is no demand.


Where the hell is his sense of history? These are just cute-sy remarks of one disparate to appear prescient -has to impress his students, you know.

What is the point of remarks such as these?:


• HD is dead -- it was never born. We can debate whether it was ever an embryo and therefore an actual real, live radio signal.

• Pull the plug and never say HD again. It can only be trouble. If you need short monikers -- practice saying WiFi because it is going be something meaningful and radio is letting it get away.

Use HD technology to read -- electric meters and the like -- which I am told it can do.

He has often made this anti-hd argument that the upgrade comes at the cost of on-air product. Do you know of any but the worst rustbuckets for whom the hd upgrade would be detrimental to their operating budget?

Mr DelColliano's general attitude toward OTA radio could be summed up as don't even bother changing the lightbulbs in the studio, scrap the tower and sell the land for condos, it's over..

If the small universe of his students indeed have no use for radio, why would anyone posit that the same thing simply delivered by other means (with a price tag) will fare any better.

No answer? No problem...the question will come up again in, oh a week or so..

Lino

 

[Play Freebird]

Ol' friend, don't get worked up over this, Mr delColliano puts his views up for public scrutiny and they are thus , not inviolate.

Mr DelColliano's general attitude toward OTA radio could be summed up as don't even bother changing the lightbulbs in the studio, scrap the tower and sell the land for condos, it's over..

Lino

However, I've noticed Jerry DC always has good things to say about his friend Jerry Lee, who owns a very successful OTA station (which also happens to run HD Radio, although you would never know that by visiting WBEB's website.)

I would be interested in knowing Jerry Lee's candid views on HD. I think he went along with it to be a "good sport", but it hasn't made him a dime and needless to say, his listeners don't care. (If they want to listen to "digital" at work, he offers an online stream.) He has no need to impress Wall Street; he answers only to himself and probably has a much better understanding of how to put his resources to the best use.

 

[LinoNYC]

However, I've noticed Jerry DC always has good things to say about his friend Jerry Lee, who owns a very successful OTA station (which also happens to run HD Radio, although you would never know that by visiting WBEB's website.)

I would be interested in knowing Jerry Lee's candid views on HD. I think he went along with it to be a "good sport", but it hasn't made him a dime and needless to say, his listeners don't care. (If they want to listen to "digital" at work, he offers an online stream.) He has no need to impress Wall Street; he answers only to himself and probably has a much better understanding of how to put his resources to the best use.

That statement is self contradicting, if Mr Lee "has no need to impress Wall street" -or anyone else, why install HD just to be a "good sport"?

My guess is that he did it for the same reason FM broadcasters replaced entire airchains for stereo 40+ years ago, he's thinking of the future.

Lino

 

[Kelly]

Both ASCAP and BMI have been contacting stations over the past year trying to convince them to move over to "blanket" music licensing deals, rather than channel by channel. Their push-point has been with streaming, additional HD channels, and future ways of delivering content, station owners would be better served with a blanket licensing agreement.

If you are a group owner of TV or radio, negotiating a blanket agreement is indeed much less than ala carte'. If I owned a stand-alone station, then a blanket arrangement wouldn't make sense. That being said, I'm willing to bet that most IBOC stations are owned by larger groups anyway.

I don't think that's the point, the IBOC Alliance has said that there will be 30 million HD receivers out there by 2012 : and Ascap believes it and is pushing for their dough. ;D You might try reading the whole article.

I read thanks KB, but I believe you're reading into something that isn't there. First of all the "article" as you call it, is actually a blog. I shouldn't have to explain what a blog is, but clearly the writer has an opinion but as any blog, not always based on facts. Gee, this example is rather like many of the posts on this discussion board isn't it?

I can appreciate the point that you revel in whatever information you can find that reinforces your criticism against HD radio in general, but perhaps you should build your argument with something other than blog posts.

 

[KB1OKL]

Both ASCAP and BMI have been contacting stations over the past year trying to convince them to move over to "blanket" music licensing deals, rather than channel by channel. Their push-point has been with streaming, additional HD channels, and future ways of delivering content, station owners would be better served with a blanket licensing agreement.

If you are a group owner of TV or radio, negotiating a blanket agreement is indeed much less than ala carte'. If I owned a stand-alone station, then a blanket arrangement wouldn't make sense. That being said, I'm willing to bet that most IBOC stations are owned by larger groups anyway.

I don't think that's the point, the IBOC Alliance has said that there will be 30 million HD receivers out there by 2012 : and Ascap believes it and is pushing for their dough. ;D You might try reading the whole article.

I read thanks KB, but I believe you're reading into something that isn't there. First of all the "article" as you call it, is actually a blog. I shouldn't have to explain what a blog is, but clearly the writer has an opinion but as any blog, not always based on facts. Gee, this example is rather like many of the posts on this discussion board isn't it?

I can appreciate the point that you revel in whatever information you can find that reinforces your criticism against HD radio in general, but perhaps you should build your argument with something other than blog posts.

If you had read the whole article as you have intimated then you certainly missed the general thrust of it or ignored it which is much more likely, which is:
The IBOC Alliance's lies are starting to catch up with them and it's about time.
To answer another one: yes of course this board is all opinion, which is exactly why a blog like Jerry's belongs here.
Revel? I will dance in the streets the day I hear IBOC's been shut off permanently, until then no time for celebration.

 

[KB1OKL]

Whoa, looks as if posters here have migrated over to Jerry's blog, taking pot shots at HD Radio and each other.

That's pretty much because the comment section over there is a complete sewer. Since Jerry does know radio PROGRAMMING, you'd think he could use some of the talent he obviously used to use for radio phoners on his comment board. However I suspect if he got the least bit picky, he'd have very few if any comments.

If you start airing dog-meat callers, pretty so you have a dog-meat station.

I would suggest that carries over to Blog Comments.

Clouseau

Jerry unlike most pro-IBOC blogs which cherry pick their posters (rah! rah! rah! OK your post's in) lets just about anyone post opinions there which is why I believe it is one of the better known and more highly respected blogs out there. He has both pro and con post there, can't say that about many other blogs.

 

[clouseau]

Jerry unlike most pro-IBOC blogs which cherry pick their posters (rah! rah! rah! OK your post's in) lets just about anyone post opinions there which is why I believe it is one of the better known and more highly respected blogs out there. He has both pro and con post there, can't say that about many other blogs.

Gee, I never really looked at it that way. I suppose rather than listening to people who actually have some qualification or knowledge about any issue or subject, like say CNN, Fox News ABC, NBC, CBS or MSNBC, I should go down to the street corner and listen to an average citizen. Or maybe watch one of those shows on MTV where everyone can text in how much they're in love with some girl or boy. Unmoderated message boards are basically worthless IMHO.

Ya know, Bob, if you had ever had even the vaguest association with radio programming, you'd understand WHY most callers never get on the air. Because they are CLUELESS uninteresting dweebs. Case in point... How often do YOU call a radio station?. (I'm assuming you are NOT a cluless uninteresting dweeb)

If anyone ever did put all callers on the air, you'd have the intelligence level of those commercials you bitch about elsewhere on this board.

Maybe sometime you should actually see what the "All Phoners" night jock does to make that show sound as energetic and fast paced as it does. How they coach callers through the process. Usually with multiple takes. It's a whole other world I was referring to, Bob. The general public just ain't that interesting. And they sure as heck don't get on the air on your classic rock station either, do they?

I'm not a blog expert, but rest assured Jerry's is NOT what it is because of the comments. I be3lieve it is better without the comments from the peanut gallery at all. Of course YMMV.

Clouseau

 

[Carmine5]

I’m getting tired of seeing Mr. Jerry DC dogged by the current corporate radio apologists, has-beens, and wannabes that made him an acclaimed and wealthy man over a decade ago... Now they're smarting from their penny stock certificates, and come on this forum to trash this fine man to sieze some pitiful reclamation with NO class or candor whatsoever - and let's not forget to mention a lack of simple respect... SHAME ON YOU and JUST STOP IT... You’re making fools of yourself!

Ol' friend, don't get worked up over this, Mr delColliano puts his views up for public scrutiny and they are thus , not inviolate.

I don't get involved with the comments section of blogs, I leave that for the likes of pocketlint and that gaseous quack from the Swindler State, I do often read them and even his those who largely agree with him suggest "get some new material".

I as an outsider have no personal interest in those whom Mr DelColliano regularly excoriates but it's obvious that his tirades go beyond that nebulous concept of "tough love" -often used as a cover for vengeance.

Then there are the numerous "he doesn't get it" moments such as:


Of course, anyone who actually believes HD has any kind of future in radio is smoking something very powerful.

HD is a failure by every measure.

Virtually no one owns HD radio. And there is no demand.


Where the hell is his sense of history? These are just cute-sy remarks of one disparate to appear prescient -has to impress his students, you know.

What is the point of remarks such as these?:


• HD is dead -- it was never born. We can debate whether it was ever an embryo and therefore an actual real, live radio signal.

• Pull the plug and never say HD again. It can only be trouble. If you need short monikers -- practice saying WiFi because it is going be something meaningful and radio is letting it get away.

Use HD technology to read -- electric meters and the like -- which I am told it can do.

He has often made this anti-hd argument that the upgrade comes at the cost of on-air product. Do you know of any but the worst rustbuckets for whom the hd upgrade would be detrimental to their operating budget?

Mr DelColliano's general attitude toward OTA radio could be summed up as don't even bother changing the lightbulbs in the studio, scrap the tower and sell the land for condos, it's over..

If the small universe of his students indeed have no use for radio, why would anyone posit that the same thing simply delivered by other means (with a price tag) will fare any better.

No answer? No problem...the question will come up again in, oh a week or so..

Lino

Well, as we know there are blogs and there are blogs.

Some are by generalists who freely pontificate on any topic; global warming, what detergent to use and occasionally they may even talk about radio.

Then there are blogs by those who are seasoned experts in their field, who study it and the trends carefully. Jerry Del C. is the latter. What he says about the radio industry has weight, not only as an expert but as one who has nothing to gain by trying to impose a certain view over another.

If Jerry thinks HD Radio is a dead skunk laying in the middle of the communications highway; run over by newer and better technology, then who am I to say it isn't true. If he says that HD-R distracting the radio industry away from more serious matters affecting the medium's future particularly with the next generation, what is there not to believe?

For that matter, I regard Mr. Savage as a seasoned expert as well. As an in-the-trenches station GM/owner he sees this stuff up close and personal. He knows first hand how HD-R is affecting medium and small market station owners. And if he says HD Radio is creating a digital divide between haves and have nots with no long term benefits for smaller markets, why should I not accept what he's saying as being true?

I'd much rather believe the opinions of these guys then someone who only spends his time huddled around an HD Radio, twiddling an antenna and logging and recording signals.

C5

 

[LinoNYC]

Well, as we know there are blogs and there are blogs.

Some are by generalists who freely pontificate on any topic; global warming, what detergent to use and occasionally they may even talk about radio.

Then there are blogs by those who are seasoned experts in their field, who study it and the trends carefully. Jerry Del C. is the latter. What he says about the radio industry has weight, not only as an expert but as one who has nothing to gain by trying to impose a certain view over another.

It may surprise but I consider his views on HD radio to be the least biased and vendetta driven of all his opinions. They are just based on faulty grounds.

If Jerry thinks HD Radio is a dead skunk laying in the middle of the communications highway; run over by newer and better technology, then who am I to say it isn't true.

I think you've just voided and pretense of objectivity. Not that I'am surprised.

If he says that HD-R distracting the radio industry away from more serious matters affecting the medium's future particularly with the next generation, what is there not to believe?

How about reality, Most viable stations bill in the millions, the cost of an HD upgrade is CAPEX -spread out over a dozen or more years. If that is such a "distraction" what must he think of all those Playboy magazines in the Green room.

For that matter, I regard Mr. Savage as a seasoned expert as well. As an in-the-trenches station GM/owner he sees this stuff up close and personal. He knows first hand how HD-R is affecting medium and small market station owners.

That reminds me, we are almost 10 months into Armageddon. 'Still waitin' on that great outcry from those trenches.

And if he says HD Radio is creating a digital divide between haves and have nots with no long term benefits for smaller markets, why should I not accept what he's saying as being true?

For starters, how about some proof that iboc has had any meaningful deleterious effect. The sad fact is that alot of those smaller markets have already abandoned their local AM station relegating it to a subsistence of whoring out to religion, colon blow and third string wackos of the right.

I'd much rather believe the opinions of these guys then someone who only spends his time huddled around an HD Radio, twiddling an antenna and logging and recording signals.

Um,,those recordings constitute something called proof remember that?

Lino