Sound Exchange Coming Under Increasing Fire
Sound Exchange, the company annointed by Congress to collect and distribute artist royalties on digital performances (like internet radio stations), has been criticized by some for it’s role in the recent heated debate over internet radio royalties, as well as for other administrative issues in the years since it’s creation. It seems the fire is getting hotter, with new questions arising about whether it is authorized to engage in lobbying activities at all. Increasingly detailed questions about finances and activities are being asked of SOundExchange by increasingly more high profile players. No congressional interest yet, but it may be coming. I’m guessing that’s a long way off, though, as the long arm copyright agenda fueled by big internet and media companies is well funded and seemingly well connected.
Check out some interesting discussion on p2pnet.net.
September 23rd, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Friday, September 21, 2007
Vampires and the RIAA
Ever notice how vampires operate? They suck your blood all the while making you think that they are doing you the favor.
It really does appear that the RIAA and its net representative, Sound Exchange, operate under the same principle.
The RIAA has the Copyright Royalty Board under its thumb and appears to dictate web policy to that board, the RIAA tells webcasters what they will pay or else they go to jail or get sued. This seems to be coercion to me.
So, in effect, the RIAA sets royalty payments unilaterally, sucks the funds from the webcasters and makes them think that the RIAA did them the favor.
If the RIAA had its way, there’d be no webcasting at all. Each note of music would have to be bought from one of the RIAA’s constituent members. No more free music of any kind, no more fair use would exist, nothing without payment. Pay through the nose, then give up your nose.
One thing that webcasters forget as victims of this policy, they could put a stop to it fast. Just stop webcasting music. When the public starts complaining to Congress to do something about it, perhaps the RIAA can be controlled by reason and not avarice.
Victimizers often forget that if they destroy the victim, their victimization ceases and they have no source left from which to suck.
Unfortunately, the so-called musical performance artists contribute to this victimization by profiting from the RIAA’s activities, whether vicariously or otherwise. You can’t take your profits with a clear conscience when the agency collecting for you is known to be set on destroying the source of those profits.
Musicians can create music without an audience, but do they really want that?
Just some thoughts.
BRIAN LEE CORBER, CORBERLAW@AOL.COM, Panorama City, California 91412-4656, 818-786-7133.