2008-07-25T12:22:57Z http://blog.beachshag.com/comments/atom.aspx Quick Blog tag:blog.beachshag.com,2007-05-02:341770 ed edwards 2007-05-02T12:54:22Z 2007-05-02T12:54:22Z tag:blog.beachshag.com,2007-04-29:338086 John E Waters http://www.live365.com/stations/hot100fla 2007-04-29T17:56:07Z 2007-04-29T17:56:07Z THe CRB ruling may be overturned by Congress, a bill in the House has been introduced by a Congressman from Washington, and is in need of co-sponsors. (HR-2060). Please spread the word, and write to your Congressman and tell him or her about this Bill.]]> tag:blog.beachshag.com,2007-04-07:314165 Fred 2007-04-07T15:30:48Z 2007-04-07T15:30:48Z tag:blog.beachshag.com,2007-03-28:303674 Stephan Lapping http://web.mac.com/sandband. 2007-03-28T22:15:27Z 2007-03-28T22:15:27Z
It's not really a question of whether or not there should be compensation for the owner of the song, but what is a fair amount in the case of the small internet "radio" station. By analogy, nobody expects to walk into the local music store and walk out with your favorite CD for nothing. However, the problem now is that internet radio, under the new royalty scheme must first track plays of songs (i.e. exact record keeping and reporting) and pay a higher (and ever increasing royalty rate over the next 10 years)per song royalty per song.

As a songwriter and a musician (semi-professional, which means I get paid just a little bit more than what it costs me to do it), I have a strong sense that the artist should be compensated for his/her work. As a lawyer in real life I understand that the owner of a song has the right to compensation every time it is played, recorded or used by someone else. And it is important to keep in mind that the internet is a huge source of revenue for some outlets (e.g. iTunes is downloading for a fee approx. 3 million songs a day @ at little less than a dollar a song - do the math!). Yet, we love the little guy, we all have our own peculiarities, and we are willing to accomodate him in our approach to the issue. In beach music, where a big hit may measure several thousand units, the RIAA barely registers a blip on the radar screen. Surely, there must be a way to subdivide or categorize internet radio stations so that there is a reasonable royalty scheme that both compensates the song owner but allows the niche internet radio station to continue, because in the end, the owner of the song benefits by the exposure.

Beach music is not the only genre to be affected. I'm sure that there are internet radio stations for Mongolian throat singing, Gregorian chants, whatever. It is internet radio that makes obscure music available. There must be a way to get rid of the broad brush that paints the small internet "niche" radio station with huge providers like AOL. Surely there can be a reasonable compromise.]]> tag:blog.beachshag.com,2007-03-26:299918 Gary 2007-03-26T02:47:23Z 2007-03-26T02:47:23Z tag:blog.beachshag.com,2007-03-24:299123 Larry Shaffette 2007-03-24T22:50:20Z 2007-03-24T22:50:20Z tag:blog.beachshag.com,2007-03-24:298550 Ed Morrison 2007-03-24T08:55:45Z 2007-03-24T08:55:45Z tag:blog.beachshag.com,2007-03-23:297691 RoadDog 2007-03-23T12:02:05Z 2007-03-23T12:02:05Z
I'd sure hate to lose your station as well as the myriad of others that bring music that usually doesn't get played.]]> tag:blog.beachshag.com,2007-03-23:297450 JCS http://beachshag.com 2007-03-23T09:11:13Z 2007-03-23T09:11:13Z tag:blog.beachshag.com,2007-03-21:295609 Big Bob 2007-03-21T13:42:05Z 2007-03-21T13:42:05Z