Jerry's Blog
Digital Music News – The RIAA Says Suing Individuals Was an Effective Strategy…
Jerry's Blog
The Recording Industry Association of America spent $2.1 million in the first quarter to lobby the federal government on protecting intellectual property rights in various countries and on a proposal by radio station owners to impel cellphone makers to include FM radio chips in handsets, according to a disclosure report.
That’s up from the $1.4 million it spent in the same period a year ago and more than the $1.5 million it spent in the fourth quarter of 2010.
The FM chip mandate has been a hot potato issue that the RIAA opposed after the National Association of Broadcasters proposed it.
The NAB wanted the mandate to bridge the differences between it and the RIAA over a bill that would force radio stations to pay performance artists for radio airplay. Currently, only songwriters get paid for radio airplay. But piracy and falling CD sales have diminished the promotional value of allowing radio stations to play music for free, and artists and labels are seeking the royalty fee to bolster revenues.
The NAB had suggested it could support some royalties if Congress were to also force handset makers to put FM chips in phones, which could potentially expand the radio audience, but the Read More
