SDCXTRA RADIO

Friday, December 21, 2012

Not So Fair: Internet Radio Fairness Act

December 21, 2012
Volume 1 Issue 3

> Not So Fair: Internet Radio Fairness Act
> Backstage with Melanie Fiona
> The SX Playlist
> It's Never Too Late!
> Service Providers: Tips & Reminders
> SoundExchange Around the World
> Satellite Radio Royalty Rates Increase
> News & Reviews
> Junior's Must Have Gear: Americana Strikes Back
> GRAMMY Magazine Launches
> SX Events Calendar

A Call to Action

In our last edition of Soundbyte, we reported on the "Internet Radio Fairness Act" (IRFA), introduced by Reps. Jason Chaffetz, R-UT, and Jared Polis, D-CO, and in the Senate by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-OR. The bill would be anything but fair to musicians, and could drastically cut internet radio royalties paid to recording artists and record labels.


Artists Sign Open Letter to Congress

In the November 24 edition of Billboard, SoundExchange sponsored a two page ad that served as an open letter from 125 artists in direct opposition to the Internet Radio Fairness Act. The artists include Common, Dead Kennedys, Missy Elliot, Vince Gill, Don Henley, Billy Joel, Maroon 5, Martha Reeves, David Sanborn, Michael W. Smith and Roger Waters amongst many others. A second ad featuring more than 130 artists also ran in Politico on November 28. View the ad and join these artists in the fight to support the long term value of music.

If you are an artist and would like to join the fight to preserve artists' rights and sign on to future ads, please email press@soundexchange.com.

Ask Congress to Oppose IRFA

The creators of music should not be deprived of the income they deserve.

You're encouraged to let your representatives in Washington know, and tell them not to support the "Internet Radio Fairness Act." Let them know that recording artists and copyright owners deserve more for their creative contributions to the digital music space, not less.

SoundExchange is also asking that you join the organization on Twitter. Tweet #opposeIRFA to help support the long-term value of music.

GRAMMY® award-winning R&B recording artist Melanie Fiona, was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. Her first album, "The Bridge," was released in 2009. That album featured her first breakout song, "It Kills Me," and earned her a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 where it entered the top 50 and peaked at number 43. The song also earned Fiona a GRAMMY award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Though Fiona did not come away with a trophy in 2009, she earned two GRAMMY Awards for Best Traditional R&B Performance and Best R&B Song (as the songwriter) for "Fool for You" performed with CeeLo Green in 2012.


There is a common saying that "music is the soundtrack of our lives." Since music is such a big part of the lives of those who work at SoundExchange, the organization is offering an opportunity to take a glimpse into the musical world of the SoundExchange staff. Check out the Finance Department's favorite artists' channels to stream on Internet radio.

SoundExchange is committed to moving the music industry forward. Part of that mission is ensuring that artists and labels receive the royalties they are due when their music is played in the digital space. In fact, it's never too late to register to receive royalties for your sound recordings. Even though SoundExchange is authorized by law to release royalties older than three years, artists and labels may continue to earn royalties into the future. If your creative work is being performed on a non-interactive digital source that reports to SoundExchange, the organization is collecting royalties for you. The bottom line is that SoundExchange is dedicated to its mission to support, protect and propel the music industry forward. The organization strives to collect your royalties as efficiently as possible and, ultimately, get individuals the money they have rightfully earned.


Digital music services often have questions about how to meet the requirements of the statutory license, and SoundExchange is happy to answer those questions anytime. If you're a service provider and you're not sure how to comply with the statutory license, please contact our Licensing & Enforcement department at 202.559.0555. Below are some common tips to help digital music services fulfill their responsibilities quickly and accurately.

Artists in today's market have a far broader reach to fans around the globe than ever before due to the explosive culture of digital streaming. If you are an artist or label, there is a chance your music is being streamed worldwide. And SoundExchange wants to ensure that as an artist or label, you are receiving your royalties even when your music is played around the world.

One of SoundExchange's member benefits is that the organization will collect your royalties when your music is played in other countries. SoundExchange has agreements with 27 organizations across the globe. Simply by signing up as a member of SoundExchange for free, the organization will take care of the behind the scenes work to get your royalties to you in a single check. Plain and simple.

For a full list of the agreements check here. And be sure the image below here to check out this infographic for a visual of the agreements we have around the world.

The Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) has increased the rates to be paid by SiriusXM for the contributions of recording artists and record labels to the success of its service. Specifically, the initial determination set the rates at 9 percent in the first year, rising to 11 percent in 2017. To learn more visit, the CRB website.

While SoundExchange supports the upward trend that this case demonstrates, the rates for the next term represent a below-market outcome. This is due in no small part to the CRB's application of a special rate standard that permits below market rates for SiriusXM. It is SoundExchange's belief that all radio services should pay a fair market rate for their use of sound recordings.

The organization will continue to fight for the value of music and protect the rights of creators.

John Fullbright: From the Ground Up

John Fullbright just might be the best thing to come out of central Oklahoma since Woodie Guthrie. Just shy of 25 years old, this singer songwriter recently debuted his first studio album, From The Ground Up this past May. The disc exemplifies an innate wisdom that is usually the result of trials and tribulations of love, loss, politics, and religion gathered over a lifetime.

Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap

Rapper Ice-T is considered one of the pioneers of the gangster rap scene. His directorial debut, the 2012 documentary "Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap," co-directed by Andy Baybutt, unveils the creative processes behind the innovators of the hip-hop industry. The documentary does not follow a strict timeline of the history of hip-hop. Instead, it encapsulates the stories and styles of legendary rappers, MCs, and producers, such as Chuck D, Grandmaster Caz, KRS-One, Mos Def, Common, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, MC Lyte, Nas, and Kanye West, in order to illustrate what goes on in the mind of a rapper.

Electric Banjo


Gold Tone EBM electric Banjo

With Mumford & Sons recent release, Babel (now GRAMMY® nominated for Best Album at the 55th Annual Awards in February), it seemed a good time to look into the unique composition that has been hitting our digital airwaves since the group's formation in London in 2007. After the English roots rockers dropped their hit single "Little Lion Man" in 2009, and became ubiquitous on American rock radio in 2010, audiences are now treated to an assortment of familiar, yet unusual sounds from instruments commonly associated with country, bluegrass, and folk music from Europe to the States.

Banjo

Eagle II 5-string

Speaking of banjos, Winston Marshall recently joined the Deering Banjos family of artists, picking up one of the notable manufacturer's newest offerings, the Eagle II 5-string.

Accordion
Roland FR-7x V accordion

Mumford & Sons's keyboardist Ben Lovett has made the accordion mainstream. He's been using the Roland FR-7x V accordion - "V" meaning virtual, as in digital.

Recently, the GRAMMY organization launched their brand new magazine. For more information on the launch, check out the write-up from the folks at the GRAMMY organization:

"Welcome to GRAMMY magazine, a regular publication aimed to entertain as well as inform Recording Academy® members and other music professionals about the activities of The Academy. The Recording Academy doesn't just produce the GRAMMY Awards, it is a year-round advocate on behalf of music people with charitable affiliates that promote music education and provide for the health and well-being of the music community. What we do probably impacts you. We hope you enjoy the current issue, now in a new reader-friendly format."

No comments:

Post a Comment