John Conyers, Pat Leahy pushing 'pay for play' bills in Congress

[babylonsister]

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/02/05/2009-02-05_john_conyers_pat_leahy_pushing_pay_for_p.html

John Conyers, Pat Leahy pushing 'pay for play' bills in Congress

By David Hinckley
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Thursday, February 5th 2009


The music industry is renewing its multibillion-dollar push for "performance royalties" from commercial radio stations.

Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Sen. Pat Leahy (D-Vt.) are introducing bills that would require commercial radio to pay artists and record companies every time a recording is played.

Satellite and Internet radio already make these payments, which the music industry calls long-overdue compensation for what has been free product.

The radio industry says artists and labels get fair payback through free promotion.

Radio estimates that royalties could run $2 billion-$7 billion a year and could force stations to drop music programming in favor of cheaper formats.

Radio also charges the music industry is trying to compensate for its economic problems by tapping radio, and that much of the money would go to labels, not artists.

The music industry made progress with a similar push last year and feels the new Congress may be receptive.

With so much money at stake, this one is likely to get hot and nasty.

[Jack Bone]

1. So much for the dream of starting up a radio station..

when I lose my job @ Chrysler

:nuke:

[ezgoingrl]

2. Well,

I guess we'll see how much money an artist or label can make when their music is no longer played on the radio. No one will hear the songs then go buy the cd. This is a fabulous idea. I wonder why no one has thought of this before now? :sarcasm: