Uzique wrote:
pretty sure that every radio station needs some sort of broadcast license at the very least... and pays licensing/royalties to labelJohnG@lt wrote:
Zero.Jaekus wrote:
Wait, your radio stations don't pay royalties???
source for your claim that they get nothing?
http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/co … _radi.htmlPerformance Tax threatens radio stations
By | Friday, May 15, 2009, 10:35 AM
Buried in the rubble of more high-profile congressional legislation such as H.R.1 — the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — and H.R. 15 — the National Health Insurance Act — is bill H.R.848, The Performance Rights Tax.
If passed it will result in a quantum shift in the eighty year-old relationship between the recording industry and commercial radio.
A performance tax is a fee that record labels want the government to impose on local radio stations for airing music free of charge for listeners. Critics argue that niche and minority stations, such as Dayton’s WDAO will fold if the bill is approved by congress.
“We can’t afford additional expenses,” said WDAO owner Jim Johnson. “Especially the way the economy is now. Passage of this bill also hurts up and coming artists. Radio stations will limit the number of new artists they promote in favor of the established artists with a successful track record.”
New Orleans radio DJ and music promoter George Williams said the Performance Tax has the potential to cause harm to smaller and independent radio stations.
“It’s no secret that the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is on the warpath against radio, the medium that has driven more sales for them than any other,” Williams said. “After more than eight decades of radio promoting music for free, the RIAA is seeking to enhance their diminishing bottom line by creating a new revenue stream in a way that will injure radio, particularly minority and niche stations.”
In recent years, the record labels have seen sales of CD’s decline as more listeners opt for digital downloads. However, radio remains the number one promotional vehicle for music.
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) estimates that radio already provides up to $2.4 billion annually in music sales for artists and record labels. Critics claim that by pushing a tax on local radio, record labels are biting the hand that feeds them.
“If this bill passes it means another expense which takes away from our bottom line,” said WDAO’s Johnson. “That’s something we don’t need.”
"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat
-Frederick Bastiat
