We have all seen the ads - a musician saying that downloading a song for free is theft. But apparently there is one group that doesn't have to pay musicians -- the radio stations.
From Variety.com - Musicians want pay for radio play:
Currently, payments from radio airplay are made only to songwriters and music publishers. The U.S. is the only Western free-market nation that does not require radio stations to pay artists and labels when they broadcast performances on the radio, according to the organization [MusicFirst].
MusicFirst is pushing for legislation to change that -- but the National Association of Broadcasters is fighting back.
"Congress has long recognized that radio airplay of music generates millions of dollars in revenue for record labels and artists," said NAB exec veep Dennis Wharton. "Were it not for radio's free promotional airplay of music on stations all over America, most successful recording artists would still be playing in a garage."
Wait a second -- isn't that the same argument that gets made for free downloads? Is the NAB anti-property rights?
Interesting.
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