Billy Joel and Rihanna Vs. Pandora: Whose Side Are You On?
Fergie
2012/11/15 21:00:00
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Pandora is a widely popular internet radio service that I'm sure many of you use. You might have heard that they've been backing something called the "The Internet Radio Fairness Act" which they claim will "level the playing field" between internet radio and traditional radio.
Currently, satellite radio providers and traditional radio stations pay lower royalties than internet radio stations, and Pandora thinks this is unfair -- they want to pay the same amount that the other radio stations pay, regardless of the medium.
On the surface this seems to make sense, but not everyone sees it that way. Artists including Billy Joel, Rihanna, Missy Elliot, Maroon 5 and over 100 others wrote an open letter to Congress asking them to reject the act. They're claiming musicians rely upon internet radio royalties, and if the Internet Radio Fairness Act is passed, those royalties will be reduced by 85 percent.
Being that ultimately the success of internet radio depends on musicians, what do you think? Do you think Pandora and other internet radio providers should pay less royalties, or do you side with the musicians?
INQUISITR.COM reports:
Currently, satellite radio providers and traditional radio stations pay lower royalties than internet radio stations, and Pandora thinks this is unfair -- they want to pay the same amount that the other radio stations pay, regardless of the medium.
On the surface this seems to make sense, but not everyone sees it that way. Artists including Billy Joel, Rihanna, Missy Elliot, Maroon 5 and over 100 others wrote an open letter to Congress asking them to reject the act. They're claiming musicians rely upon internet radio royalties, and if the Internet Radio Fairness Act is passed, those royalties will be reduced by 85 percent.
Being that ultimately the success of internet radio depends on musicians, what do you think? Do you think Pandora and other internet radio providers should pay less royalties, or do you side with the musicians?
INQUISITR.COM reports:
Billy Joel, Rihanna, and several other musicians wrote an open letter to Congress today asking lawmakers to reject the Pandora-backed Internet Radio Fairness Act.
Read More: http://www.inquisitr.com/399090/billy-joel-rihanna...
Please, give me a break...these people have more then enough money from royalties form radio, record sales, use for TV and movies, and concerts.
As for "they make enough money already", the big names in music and entertainment in general do make a lot of money, but not the little names. There are dozens of people, if not hundreds involved in making an album. It's like a move - look at the credits next time in a movie. It seems like it's endless. Same with albums. They don't all make millions.
Also, those little names get a LOT more exposure online. Make a specialized radio station and discover a little indie band you like, and Pandora will provide a link to buy the song and support the artist. If your not popular yet, good luck trying to get on the radio. Little bands have a lot more to gain online.
Basically, this new boom of exposure changed the music industry from one giant McDonald's to a McDonalds and a bunch of mom and pop diners, ethnic food shops, quaint little cafes and artisanal bakeries.
The thing that makes Pandora so superior to radio is the fact that they play a much wider variety of music on their channels than the radio will ever dare to. If they had to pay more in royalties, they would have to advertise more, charge their customers more (for premium accounts), and probably cut out a lot of good music that isn't as mainstream.
Pandora plays a lot of good "B-Sides" that the radio would never dream of. I have sat there, written down/liked songs, and then gone to iTunes or even Amazon and purchased the music because it was that good. A lot of smaller and more independent artists have made it into my playlist because of this.
The record industry's old model is dead. They've been fighting tooth-and-nail to hang onto it since the late 90s, but we live in a world with broadband. Adapt or die.
I guess I'll check out Pandora, then.
Trying to start an argument?
Hmmmmm ?
It's hard being a troglodyte, eh?