Clear Channel and NPR hold hands

Yesterday, lawmakers introduced a bill intended to prevent the drastic increase in royalty payments targeted at internet radio in the coming months. The "Internet Radio Equality Act," introduced by Reps. Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Don Manzullo (R-IL), would overturn a ruling by the Copyright Royalty Board which by some estimates could result in fee increases on Internet radio operators ranging from 300 to 1200 percent between 2006 and 2012 driving popular internet radio sites like Pandora out of business. Naturally, this fee increase is opposed by NPR, Clear Channel, Pandora and pretty much everyone else with a soul. Keep your fingers crossed slobsters!

In somewhat related news, a federal court ruled Wednesday that there is no artist performance right in a digital download. Royalty collection agency ASCAP (to whom radio stations, bars, and coffee shops shell out fees to play their music, spawning the creation of Muzak) had been lobbying hard for the royalty right, which up until now had been overlooked. This ruling could have a serious effect on the future of music, effecting the bottom-line of many artists and music providers. But, it'll probably be appealed anyway.

story 1 via Benton Foundation

Story 2 via Digital Music News

See also SaveNetRadio.org

the fcc, letting us be?

In the same week that the FCC announced that Clear Channel, Citadel, and others would pay a settlement to end the payola scandal that has plagued commercial radio, another side deal was made.

Independent of the government's ruling, major radio corporations struck a deal with independent music spokesgroup American Association for Independent Music (A2IM, a sweet acronym) to allot airtime for indie bands. Clear Channel and friends will now set aside 8,400 half hour blocks for our little unknown friends thus flipping the the entire music industry on its head, baffling indie bands and their labels, and freaking out scenesters worldwide.

Now this begs a few questions:

1. What's an indie band?
2. Will indie bands get indie-er to avoid major radio play?
3. Will non-indie groups get indie-er to receive more gauranteed radio play?

We'll have to wait and see, but until then, I'm going to have to find all sorts of new ways to up my indie cred.

(Sourcess: ABC News, Spin)