RIAA Versus Broadcasters

[alteran]

The RIAA has gotten their congressional minions to push bills into congress repealing the semi-royalty-free ability broadcasters have to play music while only compensating the songwriters.

The broadcasters have slapped back by asking congress to look into recording contracts.

It's kind of like Senator Palpatine versus Sauron-- not really sure who's gonna win, but somebody bad is going to take it on the chin. And there's the very real possibility both will lose.

I actually think that the recording industry has a legitimate point THIS TIME, but they are going to create a lot of bad will with broadcasters, and if congress actually looks at the reality of recording contracts (and particularly accounting-- according to the recording industry, they never make money), the recording industry is well and truly screwed.

[DevilAlumna]

Not totally related, but Wired Magazine has a good interview with David Byrne (formerly of Talking Heads) on the state/future of the music industry - worth reading:

http://www.wired.com/entertainment/m...16-01/ff_byrne