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Canadian Songwriters Propose $10/mo Internet Fee
BitterOak points out this Windsor Star story, according to which "Canadian songwriters are proposing a $10 fee to be added to monthly ISP bills, giving users a license to download music using peer-to-peer file sharing technologies for free, without fear of reprisal. The money collected would be distributed to members of a Canadian association of songwriters (SOCAN). The story doesn't make clear whether the license would apply only to Canadian music, or how musicians in other nations would be compensated otherwise."
It appears to be opt-in. So if you don't want to have a 'license to download', you don't pay.
It doesn't seem like a terrible idea, though I'd need to see a few more details.
It's on America's tortured brow, That Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow
Good luck with that.
My brother is a full-time professional musician. He has been on at least seven albums that I can think of, one of which was nominated for a Juno. He has received *exactly* nothing from the tarrif on blank media. Nothing. Nada.
Celine Dione, one of Canada's top-selling artists, made a comment once about how she never saw enough money from the tariffs to make any difference in her income.
This will be the same, if it goes through. A cash-grab by the industry that goes to middle-managers, never artists.
"People who do stupid things with hazardous materials often die." -- Jim Davidson on alt.folklore.urban