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Every morning while getting dressed I have play Morning Express with Robin Meade on the television. I like her because she's light and fluffy and gives the news in bite size chunks which my wholly non-news minded brain can process. Well, this morning one of the top stories was about how musicians are going before congress to force radio stations to pay to play their music.
THE HELL?!?!?!
According to reports, Sheryl Crow, will.i.am, Herbie Hancock and other entertainers on Tuesday urged Congress to force radio stations to pay performers when their music is broadcast.
I could bring up the stupidity of bringing legislation against a business in the middle of recession in which businesses are crashing left and right, INCLUDING the peripheral type of business they are attacking, but I think that's a given.
No, my argument is that this wouldn't even work in a stable economy.
The musicFIRST Coalition, the group formed by these narcissists, is arguing that Satellite radio, Internet radio and cable TV music channels already pay fees to performers and musicians, along with songwriter royalties. AM and FM radio stations do not pay performers' royalties, just songwriters.
Well, yes that's true, but there's a fundamental difference between radio and those other services. People are paying to listen to these services. No one is paying radio. Radio functions under the same principle as television (the medium in which I earn my paycheck), they provide free content as long as you sit through their advertisers shtick.
For anyone who know anything about advertisement knows that hasn't really been working to well since the advent of DVRs and...well...satellite radio. Think about it. What was the last commercial you sat through while watching your favorite show? When was the last time you didn't change stations when a commercial came on the radio? Heck, when was the last time you listened to the radio?
As for songwriters getting paid...well, they got in when the getting was good. You snooze, you lose. Maybe is you could write your own music...well....
Demanding payment from radio is like getting mad at the special needs greeter for not knowing exactly what aisle you can find foot powder.
Radio and television stations aren't rolling in the green right now and all this legislation is going to do is cost innocent workers (i.e. people like me) their jobs when these stations cut costs to pay for Patti LaBelle's new wig.
Will.i.am and the rest of these greedy bastards should try making decent records for once instead of demanding cash for the crap they have out now...oh, wait, but he's too busy playing with holograms and nut-tugging on Obama. My bad....
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THE HELL?!?!?!
According to reports, Sheryl Crow, will.i.am, Herbie Hancock and other entertainers on Tuesday urged Congress to force radio stations to pay performers when their music is broadcast.
I could bring up the stupidity of bringing legislation against a business in the middle of recession in which businesses are crashing left and right, INCLUDING the peripheral type of business they are attacking, but I think that's a given.
No, my argument is that this wouldn't even work in a stable economy.
The musicFIRST Coalition, the group formed by these narcissists, is arguing that Satellite radio, Internet radio and cable TV music channels already pay fees to performers and musicians, along with songwriter royalties. AM and FM radio stations do not pay performers' royalties, just songwriters.
Well, yes that's true, but there's a fundamental difference between radio and those other services. People are paying to listen to these services. No one is paying radio. Radio functions under the same principle as television (the medium in which I earn my paycheck), they provide free content as long as you sit through their advertisers shtick.
For anyone who know anything about advertisement knows that hasn't really been working to well since the advent of DVRs and...well...satellite radio. Think about it. What was the last commercial you sat through while watching your favorite show? When was the last time you didn't change stations when a commercial came on the radio? Heck, when was the last time you listened to the radio?
As for songwriters getting paid...well, they got in when the getting was good. You snooze, you lose. Maybe is you could write your own music...well....
Demanding payment from radio is like getting mad at the special needs greeter for not knowing exactly what aisle you can find foot powder.
Radio and television stations aren't rolling in the green right now and all this legislation is going to do is cost innocent workers (i.e. people like me) their jobs when these stations cut costs to pay for Patti LaBelle's new wig.
Will.i.am and the rest of these greedy bastards should try making decent records for once instead of demanding cash for the crap they have out now...oh, wait, but he's too busy playing with holograms and nut-tugging on Obama. My bad....
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