In the ever shifting musical business landscape there often needs to be an outside arbitrator to straighten things out. And ironically a country as free-market loving as ours it’s often the Feds left to straighten things out.
I think this is correct. Figuring out if a broadcaster should start paying songwriter royalties to performing rights groups ASCAP, BMI and SESAC (who was a big presence at the Americana Music Conference) instead of the current model of exemption from performance royalties because, as the broadcasters argue, the promotional value gained by playing music on the radio more than offsets any royalty that performers and record companies would receive. There needs to be a formalized and fairly equitable business model for terrestrial, satellite and Internet radio for the future. If these no money in it for the artist, then great songwriters might never pick up the pen for the need to support themselves and their family.
Lyle Lovett is scheduled to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday as the music industry continues its push for a royalty for over-the-air broadcasts. Good for Lyle!