|
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- Dozens of artists and
independent labels whose
creativity fuels more than 40%
of online music today called on
SoundExchange to quickly offer
royalty rate proposals that will
enable Internet radio to survive
and build a sustainable
industry.
The following
statement was released today on
behalf of independent artists
and labels supporting the
SaveNetRadio campaign:
"Our music has found a home,
an audience, and a fan base
online, and particularly through
Internet radio. Internet radio
is one of the great music
discovery tools for fans of all
artists and all genres. In
addition to promoting our music
Internet radio pays royalties --
a great combination.
"It has been several months
since thousands of artists and
millions of Internet radio fans
called on Congress to help, and
yet we appear to be no further
toward a permanent solution now
than we were then. The
uncertainty of Internet radio's
future harms artists and
independent labels as we prepare
tour schedules and album
promotions for 2008. Net radio
is a significant part of our
marketing strategies, but that
seems to be lost in the
continuing fight over royalties.
"We like being paid for
Internet radio performances, but
we benefit from high royalty
rates only if net radio services
can afford to stream our music.
If services are bankrupted by
high royalties, they play no
music and pay no royalties --
and we lose. As the intended
beneficiaries of sound recording
performance royalties, we reject
this outcome. We urge
SoundExchange, on behalf of the
independent artists and labels
they represent to find a
reasonable and lasting solution
as soon as possible."
|
