The Performance Tax and Jax Radio

[John FL]

I suppose all of us would agree that the last thing radio stations in our town or anywhere else need is yet another challenge to staying finacially afloat. Look, I can appreciate how the record companies have taken big hits over the years with technology and people downloading their favorite tunes. But I don't believe radio should pay the price for what is happening.

As we know, radio currently pays pays the songwriters etc., really as they should I believe, but isn't that enough? Should this pass, I wonder what it would mean to stations in our town who are struggling to stay above water as it is. I know I sometimes sound like a broken record but to me, music variety and format variety is key to the long term viability of radio. This town has enough issues providing that to the public as it is. Talk has a place too but it's not the time for everyone to jump into that.

Does anyone know if there is any local efforts going on to address this? I would like to help in any way I can. I found the following link pretty informative explaning the situation:

http://www.noperformancetax.org/issue.asp

 

[TommyR]

Look, I can appreciate how the record companies have taken big hits over the years with technology and people downloading their favorite tunes. But I don't believe radio should pay the price for what is happening.

Well put, and I don't see how this BS could go any further if that one sentence was repeated over and over. Just another great job by the recording industry, shifting the blame to justify almost anything.

I did hear an announcement on a local Cox station addressing this.

 

[H82BL8]

The costs are even higher if you are streaming. If you aren't streaming now, you will be in the future. Please look at both sides of the equation.

 

[John FL]

Yes, good point about streaming. Over the last several months I have come to the conclusion that streaming is the way to go and I believe it is a technological life preserver for radio - even with the added costs. The audience potential is mind-blowing! While I can't listen to everything, I have been quite impressed with the CBS Radio operation in this regard. Understanding we don't hear the on-air commercials the listener is hearing locally, I have been observing that their streaming is chock full of commercials. So apparently, they are doing a good job in selling the alternative listening vehicle. Obviously, if they can generate more revenue to offset that even with an increase in various taxes, then kudos to them.

I'm not too sure about HD2 at this time in that it hasn't caught on big time but their Philly station, WOGL and WOGL HD1 is formatted with 60s, 70s, and 80s and the HD2 features all 70s and it makes a really good package. It seems depending on a listener's mood, you can have a 70s Saturday night party on a Wednesday if you wish. I think it's good positioning.

I met a friend yesterday who is a big-time techy at the local bagel/coffee place. We wound up drawing a crowd and turned some people on to the CBS application download for their phones etc. It proves, once again, that listeners are looking for alternatives that they don't find locally. I think there is opportunity to build something with thechnolgy to compete/supplement radio but I'm not sure how to go about it. When I caught Dick Morris on Boortz yesterday, his thoughts about what could happen to radio made me shudder. I'm beginning to think the future may have a lot of independent streamers who can only be heard via the internet in an "attempt" to avoid government restrictions and increased taxes. Anyway, there's a helluva lot to think about.

 

[Tibbs4]

Is it so profitable for artists to worry about pennies for airplay or not make dollars for music no one ever hears???