Free Radio Alliance

The big record labels, represented by the musicFIRST Coalition, have been pushing to levy a performance tax on local radio stations for decades, but Congress has never agreed. In fact, nearly 200 members of the Senate and House currently support a resolution opposing legislation that would impose any new fee on broadcasters for over the [...]

This week, the White House issued a broad white paper on intellectual property enforcement, specifically overseas. In that paper was buried a small section endorsing a “performance right” that would require radio stations to pay a fee to record labels and performers when they play music. In other words, a performance fee. US Intellectual Property [...]

It’s official – the Local Radio Freedom Act is back in full force in the 112th Congress. Sending a strong message about their support for free and local radio stations, Sens. Ben Nelson (D-NE) and John Barrasso (R-WY) and Reps. Mike Conaway (R-TX) and Gene Green (D-TX) introduced the resolution late last week. Much like [...]

With recent negotiations fizzling out between record companies and the broadcaster community on the contentious issue of performance fees and a lame-duck Congress inundated with other issues, movement on the PRA has likely been tabled until the next Congress begins in 2011. When that Congress convenes, the debate over a new performance fee will begin [...]

The dust has settled, and although the winners of all the congressional seats haven’t been announced (and may not be for weeks), there is officially a new majority in Congress. The next few weeks will be a whirlwind of activity in Washington; this new Congress means a lot of things, from changing political imperatives to [...]

In case you hadn’t noticed, election season is here again. It’s a stressful time for candidates and campaign staffers, and a confusing time for the rest of us. Between campaign slogans, ads paid for by supporters, debates and pulpit promises, and it’s often hard to figure out where candidates really stand on a given issue. [...]

The global recession, the housing crisis, the collapse of Wall Street…what have our lawmakers learned from our current situation? For one thing, as recent actions show, they have taken the stance that good business requires transparency and sound, equitable regulation. However, the operative word here is equitable. As Rob Smith of Bacon’s Rebellion points out [...]

RBR-TVBR recently drew attention to one of the best examples we have of the lasting impacts of performance fees: In India, radio stations are going silent to save on royalty costs, turning off completely during the overnight hours. RBR-TVBR questions the wisdom behind this decision: The bottom line is that you really have to wonder [...]

The Lantern, student newspaper at Ohio State University, addressed the likely impact the performance tax would have on local and college radio.  ”Nearly 106,000 Americans are employed by radio stations. A performance tax that would likely shut down many stations and would likely ultimately result in lost jobs in an economy already struggling with unemployment.” [...]

The Daily Swarm points to a very interesting discrepancy in the stated purpose of SoundExchange and its actual practices.  SoundExchange is charged with collecting royalties for artists and distributing them.  However, they’re holding more than $200 million in unpaid royalties. While Sound Exchange can’t seem to locate artists for payment, which is their job, they seem to find plenty of time and [...]