[78-L] This Will Make Radio Even MORE Dead

[Steven C. Barr]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Lewis" <uncledavelewis at hotmail.com>
>
> Dear Recording Academy Member:
> In February, I told our worldwide GRAMMY telecast audience about our quest 
> for a performance right for artists whose music is broadcast on AM/FM 
> radio.
> My message today is for our insiders-Recording Academy members. We are at 
> a critical moment in this pursuit, and now is the time to act. A vote in 
> the U.S. House Judiciary Committee is imminent, so your representative 
> needs to hear from you today or tomorrow (May 11 or 12).
> Royalties are paid to performers by U.S. Internet radio and satellite 
> radio, and by terrestrial broadcasters everywhere in the developed world. 
> But in the U.S., AM/FM radio does not pay for the music it uses. The 
> Performance Rights Act would close the "corporate radio loophole" that 
> prevents artists from earning royalties when their work is used by the $16 
> billion radio industry. If you believe that performers should be 
> compensated whenever another business profits from their work, please take 
> three minutes and place a call to your legislator's office. It's quick and 
> easy. Simply go to www.grammy.com/musicfirst and click "Call Now" for 
> instructions.
> Together, we can establish this important right for our music community.
> Kind regards,
>
> Neil Portnow
> President/CEO
> The Recording Academy
>
For the first couple of decades, records and radio COMPETED to put music
into people's homes (although some stations did try broadcasting recordson
occasion?!). After WWII, record companies discovered that when records
were played on radio it actually promoted their sale...so record companies
started mailing out "promo copies" of new discs to dj's (this is why record
companies and recording artists don't get royalties...which nobody seems
to remember or comprehend...?!)

...stevenc