Music Takes Center Stage In Congress Today
The U.S. House Judiciary Committee is expected debate the newly introduced Webcaster Settlement Act today at a hearing that will also consider the Performance Rights Act that would require broadcast radio stations to pay performers royalties similar to those which songwriters receive.
Digital broadcasters currently pay performance royalties and it is their overall payments that the Webcaster Settlement Act 2009 attempts to address. Introduced byHouse Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. John Conyers, the bill provides webcasters with a new opportunity to obtain
financial relief from the Copyright Royalty Board's 2007 decision on royalty rates. Webcasters hope to negotiate royalty rates
similar to those set for cable and satellite broadcasters.
"We are hopeful that the House Judiciary Committee will address this important radio parity issue when it considers the Performance Rights Act this week, and that a revised standard will in the future be the basis of more reasonable CRB royalty decisions so that future Webcaster Settlement Acts will not be necessary," Jonathan Potter of the Digital Media Association (DiMA), which represents many large, said in a statement.
Hypebot will track this developing story.
It would be a shame to see so many internet radio stations suffer from a large sum having to be paid.
Many trance music stations support the scene rather than kill it when playing artists tracks. That is exactly why so many of the big name producers and DJs host their own shows across many stations as it helps promote their music.
I think the law is getting in the way of further progression and letting the scene evolve to a degree.
I understand that artists/record labels who’s work is not mixed in the same way as trance, house, techno, etc can say that their work is in danger of being ripped from a live stream, but those people will steal it one way or another anyway.
With regards getting paid the same way as before, that is all fine and dandy for the commercial scene, as always it boils down to what they want and the money grabbing labels 🙁
yes please keep us posted