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The New Webcasting Compromise

Posted by timothy on from the or-just-less-hampered dept.

arkham6 writes "According to a story on Yahoo, it appears that the RIAA and negotiators for webcasters have reached a tentative deal for reduced rates for 'small' webcasters. However, it appears now that the artists themselves are going to jump into the fray because the record companies now may be able to weasel out of paying the artists."

3 of 128 comments (clear)

  1. Paradigm Shift by claygate · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Artists and music pirates have long heralded the removal of the middleman from the music business. This paradigm shift will in effect allow the record companies to make more money and the artist the same amount. Until the artists have a method of promotion that does not require a record label they will always receive the short end of the stick. Maybe instead of $2million advances, a loan of $200,000 from a bank and some hardwork promoting your band as a day job, and playing at night for the band. Turn the band into your business and it might be successful. A few ands have taken that route and succeeded.

  2. middleman mania by Alien54 · · Score: 5, Insightful
    The deal came after an intense week of negotiations that was sparked by pressure from a key lawmaker who threatened legislation that would delay implementation of the payment.

    The RIAA agreed to something because they still want "their" money

    Although artists rights groups appear to have no problem with a deal that helps small webcasters, a union official expressed concern about language that could allow the record companies to avoid paying artists their share of the royalty directly. The language seems to allow the recording industry to deduct the top expenses that they incur for setting up and maintaining the royalty payment regime.

    "Direct payment is crucial, and if the recording industry gets deductibility language, we need direct payment," said one artists rights advocate familiar with the negotiations.

    Obviously they have gone back to their old reliable first choice of people to mess with, just to make sure they get their middle man piece of the pie.

    I want to make life size voodoo dolls of these folks.

    --
    "It is a greater offense to steal men's labor, than their clothes"
  3. Who's going to think of The Artists? by Lux · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This makes me more than a little sick. Whenever they appear before Congress or talk to a journalist, the RIAA only talks about "The Artists" {rights, livelihood, right to compensation, insentive, ...} but the second the royalty pickings get a little too slim for the studio's tastes, the artsists are the first ones to take the pay cut.