RIAA demanding XM-Sirius pay higher royalty rates
By Darren Murph 
posted July 10th 2007 11:22AM
posted July 10th 2007 11:22AM
In the unceasing feud between the RIAA and satellite radio, the agency has rekindled the fire by encouraging the FCC to "require the merged companies to pay higher royalty rates to the record industry." Reportedly, the RIAA argued that the firms were "no longer new, struggling companies that could get away with paying below-market rates," and further salted the wound by insisting that the FCC "make clear that its approval of a merger was conditioned upon the continued protection of sound recordings from unlawful infringement." Of course, a number of senators have already voiced their concern for more limitations on satellite radio streams, but unsurprisingly, it seems like the RIAA wants these lofty wishes to become reality (and in a hurry).
I think the RIAA doesn't like radio to play music because then people can hear it's all mostly crap or they'll hear the one good song and won't cough up for the full album.
Someone needs enough money to just buy the RIAA and put control in the hands of the artists who simply want their music heard. Artists don't make squat from album sales... the record labels do. Artists make their living by touring.
RIAA behave in a very cartel-like manner. Unfortunaetly, the current administration will side with them. I'm hoping no decisions are made until we have a new administration in place where Common Sense is the Norm.
Who do you suggest would buy the RIAA? This is an organization put together by the major record labels (only 3 left now) to represent them and lobby in D.C. So, no one is buying the RIAA. To the contrary, the RIAA has bought all our political representatives.
Everyone complains about the major labels and the bully behavior of the RIAA. But, how many of you support your local artists, local clubs? Not very many I'm sure. Do you want to put control in the hands of the artists? Then shop locally. Buy the albums from your local bar band, coffee shop singers, and bands. That's how you put the power back in the hands of the artists. Buying music from major artists puts the power in the hands of the labels and the RIAA.
I do, but the average sheepish Fox News watching American is completely clueless and being sold down the river by the very people they vote to represent them.
Maybe the RIAA should then strip the "new media" fee of a dollar or two they attach to every CD they sell. They are trying to have their cake and eat it to. Perhaps if they stopped trying to rip off every band that debuts, and force them into signing their soul away they might be a bit more profitable.
i think the riaa needs to shut up. permanently.
God, I hate the RIAA.
actually, i think its easy to see through, that this has more to do with the fact that they have been trying to shut down internet radio through outrageous royalties. those go into affect in 5 days on the 15th of july. one of internet radio's arguments is that the fees should be based off of the webcasters total annual revenue, as satelite is. so instead of letting them do that, the riaa would rather both industries died. greedy fools.
They are just mad that they cannot charge royalties for terrestrial, FM broadcasts... because it falls under promotion
WHAT?!?!?! The RIAA is demanding more money? yeah right...
lol
"Reportedly, the RIAA argued that the firms were "no longer new, struggling companies that could get away with paying below-market rates,"
Yeah, well neither is ClearChannel, Citadel, or CBS Radio. Oh wait, they're not paying below market rates, they're paying no rates. But they do such a public service, by playing the same crap and 20 minutes of commercials per hour, not like those 'losers' at XM that promote indie and up and coming artists, and do more promoting of artists with new albums than giving away the CD or concert tickets, they let the artists themselves on the air.
Although I hear nothing but complaining and bashing for the RIAA, everyone keeps on buying more more crappy music that it's put out by them. And it's not only the new music, old tunes alike too. Want to show the RIAA who's boss??? Stop buying music for an entire month and you'll see how quickly they'll come to their senses.
So don't complain and do nothing about it. Same thing with the MPAA. Don't buy any dvd's, attend movie theaters and you'll see what happens. As consumers, we have the ultimate power and say, only that we've been convinced by this cartel-like organizations that they're the ones in charge instead of us.
"As consumers, we have the ultimate power and say..."
A sad state we're in democratically when the word "citizen" is replaced by the word "consumer." We should have the power to keep our representatives from pandering to these lobbyists.
Truthfully, we don't even have the power as consumers to stop the continued abuse of the RIAA--the consumers objecting are by far in the minority, as are the citizens objecting to RIAA lawsuits and fees for internet radio.
Rob,
I'm with you. I have pledged to not by a single CD, album or track until the RIAA is out of business, or comes to the relization that the market will not stand for their type of business model. I am proud to say that I have not bought a CD (Track or Album) in almost 4 years (and counting). Although I have been tempted at times, thats not to say I priate music, I simply live off the collection I already have, sirus, and internet radio (while they are still around).
"As consumers, we have the ultimate power and say..."
A sad state we're in democratically when the word "citizen" is replaced by the word "consumer." We should have the power to keep our representatives from pandering to these lobbyists.
Truthfully, we don't even have the power as consumers to stop the continued abuse of the RIAA--the consumers objecting are by far in the minority, as are the citizens objecting to RIAA lawsuits and fees for internet radio.
But you see, that's exactly what the MPAA, RIAA want us to believe "consumers/citizens are powerless, mindless, and will do what we tell them to." But, we're forgetting that we are actually in charge, and not the other way around.
Remember people, vote with your wallets. That's the most efficient, and powerful, way to deal with the abuse.
Regarding our elected officials (I'm intentionally omitting "leaders") need to be reminded of who got them where they are. We can get them removed just like anyone else. Don't believe it? Ask the former governor of California. Why do you think celebrities, and politicians alike, rush to present apologies to the public when they get caught in a bad situation? Because their income is at stake. Do you sincerely believe that deep inside they care what the general public thinks of their actions? Not really. They pretend to care about it because the general public holds the power to make them and break them.
"Truthfully, we don't even have the power as consumers to stop the continued abuse of the RIAA--the consumers objecting are by far in the minority, as are the citizens objecting to RIAA lawsuits and fees for internet radio."
Consumer objecting are by far in the minority.... hmmm, if it's true (and I think it is) then you need to suck it up and deal with it until you convince the majority (or the majority of the money) that the RIAA is evil. In this country, in this society, you're not going to get your way if the majority believes something different than you.
The RIAA will not stop until we're all a bunch of drones. Wasn't this the very same tactic used by Hitler? How many more times do we need to hear the American Idol contestants get play when people who study the artform get no attention whatsoever?
The better solution is to amend the the Copyright Act to limit the term of copyright to that of patents; 20 years. That would end this whole fight and "further the useful arts." (i.e., get back to the PURPOSE of copyrights, benefiting creators so that they'll create, not benefiting corporations so that accountants get rich).
there is no way that would be done by any one. if that happend anythingmade before '87 would already have run out. what would metallica complain about then?
RIAA bastards, them and DRM can (insert expletive here)
Ok so first, they're jacking up all of the fees for internet radio, which basically puts most of the independent stations out of business. Now they're jacking up satellite radio.
Hmm whats happening to terrestrial radio, or its other name of ClearChannel and CBSRadio conglomerates.. since there really is no independent radio stations anymore. Probably nothing right? Who says this is all a conspiracy where the RIAA and those companies are trying to put the competition out of business. I smell the need for an anti-trust lawsuit, but alas it won't happen because the FCC is in their back pocket as well.
yeah not too many left, luckily my local radio station told the record industry to shove it
[url]www.fm1021.com[/url]
Hmmm...was RIAA that same bully that used to take my lunch money as a kid? I wonder.....
Further more, I believe the market should hold the Artists in contempt for not speaking out against this type of business model. Even if the RIAA went out of business tomorrow (wishful thinking) they are still only a handful of artist that I will support, ever. They are allowing this mob of lawyers and lobbyist to bully their fans, that is just unacceptable. No other business in the world could treat this customer / fans this way and continue to make money. I say they do not get a pass on this. Keeping quite on this matter just shows that they support the RIAA's tactics.
It would not take very many BIG named artist to thrwart the RIAA. If they really wanted to send a message, they could side with a defendant in one of these cases (witchhunts) and pay all attorney fees. To ensure their fans know that they do not agree with the RIAA and are trying to make a difference.
/Rant
So I hear the recording industry decided to kill itself?..
That's a shame...
We're already seeing people stop buying music, and all that has been turned into is "OMG sales are dropping, it must be due to piracy... shut down the internets!"
Who the HELL does the damn RIAA think they are? I 100% agree with "Paul" above. Who keeps check on the Fuk'ing RIAA? Has anybody got the "BALLS" in congress to go up against these damn M.F'ers? Who and where is all this money going to that they've collected from all the "KazaA and others" members that they've squeezed monies out of? Hell! They should all be millionaires by now? This Old Dawg is MADD AS HELL!!!
I'm a scriber to Sirius and would defiantly like to see the merger go through. I sure as hell don't think that any higher royalty rates should be paid out to the RIAA. Maybe they need to find there selves a better JOB and get off there a$$eS and work like most Americans have had to work for years - which means - getting out of there air condition offices and "sweat" a little to make there living.
I don't even take it seriously. Some department in RIAA just has to appear that they are doing something by periodically releasing some threatening news. Unless they really follow through, shortly it will die down again.
I have not bought a new CD in 13 years. There really hasn't been anything I am interested in buying since then. I have XM, and most of the time I listen to the Comedy Channel. The RIAA gets the money, the artists get screwed. If my two CD's ever hit it big time, I will never go through those pigs.
The RIAA should just get it over with and call themselves a law firm.
And another thing, why have they waited until now to sue. So the scenario is... let them get some success and a decent subscrivber base first, then when the market is built we can start jacking up prices. Is this a sucker punch or what???
So what's next, are the book publishing companies going to sue our libraries?
I wonder if a petition of at least 1,000 (or up to 10,000 if possible the bigger the better)people that won't buy a single dvd or cd from the major recording company's until the RIAA and the MPAA agree to disappear or the change their company model.