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RIAA Wants Artist Royalties Lowered

Posted by Zonk on from the why-should-they-get-paid-it-is-not-their-music dept.

laughingcoyote writes "The RIAA has asked the panel of federal government Copyright Royalty Judges to lower royalties paid to publishers and songwriters. They're specifically after digital recordings, and uses like cell phone ringtones. They say that the rates (which were placed in 1981) don't apply the same way to new technologies." From the article: "According to The Hollywood Reporter, the RIAA maintains that in the modern period when piracy began devastating the record industry profits to publishers from sales of ringtones and other 'innovative services' grew dramatically. Record industry executives believe this to be cause to advocate reducing the royalties paid to the artists who wrote the original music."

5 of 399 comments (clear)

  1. What the fuck man, have you no compassion? by Adult+film+producer · · Score: 5, Funny

    I personally know of 3 music artists that have died due to starvation, just in the last 2 weeks. One was a good friend involved on the verge of signing a big record deal with Sony music, but someone leaked the band's latest album on the net before the deal could be signed.. Once Sony realized pirates were using the internat to mass-copy the album, the lawyers walked away and my friend was left homeless and broke.. it was horrible watching his body decompose before my very eyes, I hope you never have to go through the same experience

  2. Re:This could be a good thing by ScrewMaster · · Score: 4, Funny

    The Newcomen Engine people are still pissed at the Watt people for breaking their monopoly on manually-operated steam engines.

    --
    The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
  3. Re:RIAA does *not* represent artists by Salgak1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ahem. I represent both Weasels AND Rats, and they take issue with being equated with the RIAA. They're both **much** better than the raw-sewage-that-walks-like-a-man members of the RIAA. . .

  4. Re:RIAA does *not* represent artists by MooUK · · Score: 4, Funny

    I represent the guild of sewer-cleaners, and I'd like to point out that my members would not even consider touching the filth that makes up the RIAA.

  5. Re:This could be a good thing by Evilest+Doer · · Score: 5, Funny
    The Newcomen Engine people are still pissed at the Watt people for breaking their monopoly on manually-operated steam engines.
    And Galley Slaves 'R' Us are still pissed at the Newcomen Engine people for making bottom fall out of the rowing industry.
    --
    I feel like death on a soda cracker.