RIAA to collect money for independant, non-RIAA artists

[Gundampilotspaz]

I’m sure most people have heard of the horrible treatment that internet radio is getting, with the rise in royalties by the copyright board threatening to completely destroy internet radio.

But the RIAA is taking it a step farther:

There has been an understandable public outcry against the RIAA’s attempts to more than triple the sound recording copyright royalties on Internet radio. (See Save Internet Radio from Corporate Money Grab) One solution proposed by Webcasters is to just not play RIAA-member songs under the assumption that then they don’t have to pay the royalty to the RIAA’s collection body, SoundExchange; Webcasters would then just pay the independent artist the royalty.

This sounds fair and just because it is. However, the RIAA is not about being fair and just. The game is rigged and the RIAA has rigged it in their favor. The strategy of playing only non-RIAA songs won’t work though because the RIAA has secured the right to collect royalties on all songs regardless of who controls the copyright. RIAA operates under the assumption that they will collect the royalties for the “sound recording copyright” and that the artists who own their own copyright will go to SoundExchange to collect at a later date.

So even if you aren’t a member of the RIAA, SoundExchange (which is in the pocket of the RIAA) will collect the money for you. Then you simply go to them and get your money. But what happens if you never collect because you don’t realize that there is money waiting for you? Well, the RIAA just cashes in.

So how it works is that SoundExchange collects money through compulsory royalties from Webcasters and holds onto the money. If a label or artist wants their share of the money, they must become a member of SoundExchange and pay a fee to collect their royalties (http://soundexchange.com/faq.html#b6). But, and this is a big “but,” you only get royalties if you own the sound recording copyright. If you are signed to a major label, chances are you don’t. Even if you do own the copyright to your own recording of your own song, SoundExchange will collect Internet radio royalties for your song even if you don’t want them to do so.

So poor garage bands who have a few songs out online are going to be making a profit for the recording industry if they want to or not.

This is a disgusting monopoly not on an industry… but on an entire art form. Hopefully someone in congress will look at this and see how harmful it is, and make an effort to stop it.

Source: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/4/24/141326/870

Repost from: http://gundampilotspaz.com/2007/04/29/riaa...n-riaa-artists/

[darkon]

Well, as someone who works for internet radio, this is just bullshit. Like someone in the government HAS to see this and do this. Someone.

[Gundampilotspaz]

Well, as someone who works for internet radio, this is just bullshit. Like someone in the government HAS to see this and do this. Someone.

I've been meaning to ask you, will this put you out of business or does the college radio fall under the rule which states... and I hope I word it right, that radio stations that mirror their broadcasts online won't have to pay this fee.

[darkon]

I've been meaning to ask you, will this put you out of business or does the college radio fall under the rule which states... and I hope I word it right, that radio stations that mirror their broadcasts online won't have to pay this fee.

We're educational oriented so we can slip by or something. I forget the details. But we're exempt from the increased fees.

[Tanni Foemangler]

is the RIAA a government organization? none of this makes any sense

[Gundampilotspaz]

is the RIAA a government organization? none of this makes any sense

The Copyright and Royalty board made the judgment.

[Belial]

Capitalism at work GPS; Its your precious system, so quit bitching!

This is total bullshit though.

[The Lone Magician]

What the hell? WHAT THE HELL?!

[thebornotaku]

This is all sorts of fucked up.

[Gundampilotspaz]

Capitalism at work GPS; Its your precious system, so quit bitching!

A government organization making rules to govern the private sector is capitalism?

I'm glad I don't live on the same planet as you

[ROCKSTEADY]

!!!PIRACY AND COPYRIGHT VIOLATION DOESN'T KILL MUSIC - COMMERCE DOES!!!

[FaultyClockwork]

Fuck the RIAA. DOWNLOADING4LIFE

[Ceraziefish]

A government organization making rules to govern the private sector is capitalism?

I'm glad I don't live on the same planet as you

The government organization is making rules to support the ruling class and the bourgeoisie, so yes, it is capitalism.

It's also retarded as hell. This needs to end.

[The Lone Magician]

Am I the only one who noticed that the guy in the picture is on an iMac?

[Ceraziefish]

I noticed that... the first time I saw the picture... five years ago.

The other picture that goes with it is great. Lemme see if I can find it.

EDIT:

This one is far more true.

[Samurai Drifter]

The strategy of playing only non-RIAA songs won’t work though because the RIAA has secured the right to collect royalties on all songs regardless of who controls the copyright.

What the shit?!

[Ceraziefish]

So, basically, now if you start humming on your internet radio show, the RIAA will charge you royalties for it.