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August 1, 2007
Radio and copyright - part 2
As a follow up to my earlier posting on how broadcast radio doesn't have to pay musicians royalties, here is this story on yesterday's House hearing on the subject - Intellectual Property Watch: US Congressional Panel Mulls Royalty Right For Songs On Radio:
Well-loved American performers, members of Congress and the US Register of Copyrights squared off Tuesday against the country’s powerful broadcast lobby in a bid to change US copyright law to reward artists for songs played on terrestrial radio stations.
The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property is examining whether performers whose songs are played on AM/FM radio should be entitled to the same sort of statutory royalties already received not only by songwriters but by performing artists on satellite, cable and Internet radio in the US and many other countries.
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) opposes such a move, saying the fee would amount to a “tax,” and that performers already receive ample benefits from the free promotion their songs receive on the radio.
Proponents for change rely on three major arguments, noted subcommittee Ranking Member Howard Coble (a Republican from North Carolina). They say that the exception was never justified by copyright law, the US Copyright Act requires satellite, Internet and cable broadcasters to compensate performers, and the US is alone is denying royalties to artists and performers.
As I said before, I am shocked that NAB seems to be anti-property rights.
Posted by Ken Jarboe at August 1, 2007 9:16 AM
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