RIAA to collect money for independant, non-RIAA artists
I’m sure most people have heard of the horrible treatment that internet radio is getting, with the rise in royalties by the copyright board threatening to completely destroy internet radio.
But the RIAA is taking it a step farther:
There has been an understandable public outcry against the RIAA’s attempts to more than triple the sound recording copyright royalties on Internet radio. (See Save Internet Radio from Corporate Money Grab) One solution proposed by Webcasters is to just not play RIAA-member songs under the assumption that then they don’t have to pay the royalty to the RIAA’s collection body, SoundExchange; Webcasters would then just pay the independent artist the royalty.
This sounds fair and just because it is. However, the RIAA is not about being fair and just. The game is rigged and the RIAA has rigged it in their favor. The strategy of playing only non-RIAA songs won’t work though because the RIAA has secured the right to collect royalties on all songs regardless of who controls the copyright. RIAA operates under the assumption that they will collect the royalties for the “sound recording copyright” and that the artists who own their own copyright will go to SoundExchange to collect at a later date.
So even if you aren’t a member of the RIAA, SoundExchange (which is in the pocket of the RIAA) will collect the money for you. Then you simply go to them and get your money. But what happens if you never collect because you don’t realize that there is money waiting for you? Well, the RIAA just cashes in.
So how it works is that SoundExchange collects money through compulsory royalties from Webcasters and holds onto the money. If a label or artist wants their share of the money, they must become a member of SoundExchange and pay a fee to collect their royalties (http://soundexchange.com/faq.html#b6). But, and this is a big “but,” you only get royalties if you own the sound recording copyright. If you are signed to a major label, chances are you don’t. Even if you do own the copyright to your own recording of your own song, SoundExchange will collect Internet radio royalties for your song even if you don’t want them to do so.
So poor garage bands who have a few songs out online are going to be making a profit for the recording industry if they want to or not.
This is a disgusting monopoly not on an industry… but on an entire art form. Hopefully someone in congress will look at this and see how harmful it is, and make an effort to stop it.
Source: Daily KOS
[...] RIAA To Collect Money for Independant, non-RIAA Artists [...]
Disgusting! I personally know one artist who on principle refuses payment for his music, even though his tracks get radio play around the world. He says he will never charge people (other than licensing for advertising and tv/movies) for his music. What category does he fall under? What about creative commons, music already licensed for free use? They’re in some serious legal gray area here and I’m sure this will be challenged. If I made music, and gave it out for free, I’d be insulted by the assumption that the RIAA has decided I will change my mind, absolutely, eventually.
If the RIAA can collect money for songs they don’t own the copywright to, why can’t I collect salary for hours I didn’t work? I promise I’ll pay the people who worked if they ask