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RIAA Wants Songwriter Royalty Lowered

Posted by kdawson on from the more-for-meeeeee dept.

NewYorkCountryLawyer writes "Lest there be anyone left who believes the RIAA's propaganda that its litigation campaign is intended to benefit the 'creators' of the music, Hollywood Reporter reports that the RIAA is asking the Copyright Royalty Board to lower songwriter royalties on song file downloads, from the present rate of 9 cents per song — about 13% of the wholesale price — down to 8% of wholesale. Meanwhile, the big digital music companies, such as Apple, want the royalty rate lowered even more, to something like 4% of wholesale. So any representations by any of these companies that they are concerned for the 'creators' of the music must henceforth be taken with a boxcar-load of salt."

16 of 343 comments (clear)

  1. You're assuming... by NixieBunny · · Score: 4, Funny

    that anyone had any doubt that the RIAA were anything but money-grubbing middlemen.

    --
    The determined Real Programmer can write Fortran programs in any language.
    1. Re:You're assuming... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      that anyone had any doubt that the RIAA were anything but money-grubbing middlemen.

      Oh come one that's not fair ... they are obviously trying to lower royalties so that they can sell music to you, the customer, for less. ;)

    2. Re:You're assuming... by The+Mighty+Buzzard · · Score: 5, Funny

      You passed up a chance to use a recursive acronym (RIAA is Against Artists) in a /. post? Are you feeling OK?

      --
      Violence is like duct tape. If it doesn't solve the problem, you didn't use enough.
    3. Re:You're assuming... by CmdrGravy · · Score: 3, Funny

      Absolutely, thats why they are only asking for a percentage reduction becuase everyone knows percentages are mathematically the fairest way of leveraging this sort of paridgm shift. Now that the cost of printing, shipping and packaging physical products can be bypassed asking the songwriters to reduce their % in order to refect the cheaper cost of on-line media is absolutely the fairest way to go.

    4. Re:You're assuming... by bob.appleyard · · Score: 2, Funny

      But it'll just get optimised into an iterative acronym...

      --
      How dare you be so modest!! You conceited bastard!!
  2. Record Companies Victimized by flaming+error · · Score: 4, Funny

    music publisher catalogs have increased in value due to steadily rising mechanical royalty rates and alternative revenue streams made possible, but not enjoyed, by record companies. Those dastardly songwriters have too long been taking unfair advantage of the RIAA's clients. They take a whopping 8% of royalties just for creating the product!

    Now the record companies, who created the internet and invented downloading music and streaming audio, have seen their take of the pie stay the same, whilst freeloading music creators are actually making more.

    I shall write to Orrin Hatch about this...
  3. RIAA bad, Apple... by martinX · · Score: 4, Funny

    Now the RIAA is a bunch of money grubbing pricks, but I can't believe Apple would have anything to do with ... HEY LOOK! OMG! New AirBooks are OUT!!!

    --
    When they came for the communists, I said "He's next door. Take him away. Goddam commies."
  4. This is right by SpacePunk · · Score: 2, Funny

    They should write songs because they love it, not because they get paid. SONGS WANT TO BE FREE! FREE THE SONGS!

    --
    Steve's Computer Service, Hobbs, NM
  5. Re:bypass the RIAA by Nefarious+Wheel · · Score: 2, Funny
    It would be great if there was a central site where artists could register to receive donations/payments that their fans wanted to give them in exchange for getting their music from an unofficial source, or just as a sign of appreciation

    There is. In Melbourne, it's called "Bourke St. Mall". Best not to set up too close to the tram tracks though.

    --
    Do not mock my vision of impractical footwear
  6. Re:Yet another reason for artists to go it alone by Foobar+of+Borg · · Score: 5, Funny

    And yet the RIAA is still chugging along.
    To use a car metaphor, it's like that car you got from your parents on your 16th birthday. It keeps getting worse and worse, but keeps chugging along and won't actually die. You're 21 years old and in college, so you can't buy your own car and your parents won't get you another one unless the one you have dies. And it's so shitty, you can leave the keys in the ignition, the door wide open, and a sign on it that says "free car", but no one will steal it. And it *just* *won't* *die*.


    That's the RIAA.

    --
    Similar to the upcoming US election results
  7. That's even better by Weaselmancer · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...this article isn't about the RIAA pissing off customers, it's about the RIAA pissing on artists.

    It is - and that's actually much better. Let's hear Lars and Dre defend this.

    BTW, Lars...Dre....if by some bizarre chance you happen to read this: I Told You So. Nyah Nyah Nyah.

    --
    Weaselmancer
    rediculous.
  8. Re:Yet another reason for artists to go it alone by eiapoce · · Score: 3, Funny

    To use a car metaphor The methafor is not complete. It's a car that sues you when you consider riding another one.
  9. Re:Why the RIAA? by balloonhead · · Score: 2, Funny
    You are correct. My mistake.

    You must be new here.

    --
    This idea was invented by Shampoo.
  10. Re:Why the RIAA? by pgillan · · Score: 1, Funny

    You are correct. My mistake.

    Holy crap! Am I on the wrong internet?

  11. Re:There goes the argument.... by mfnickster · · Score: 4, Funny

    No, that'd be the Kosher Nostra!

    --
    "Slow down, Cowboy! It has been 3 years, 7 months and 26 days since you last successfully posted a comment."
  12. Re:Why the RIAA? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    You could also pay for the masterisation and post production.
    As much as I like the term you made up, the word you're looking for is mastering.