John Macy
From:
Rockport TX/Denver CO
|
Posted 23 May 2007 5:46 am |
|
So maybe Congress listens once in a while...
From today's Digital Music News:
SoundExchange Softens Small Webcaster Royalty Requirements
SoundExchange has now offered a far less onerous royalty requirement for small webcasters, a response to increased pressure from lawmakers. According to the group, which represents the interests of the US-based recording industry, smaller broadcasters will be required to pay 10 percent of revenues up to $250,000 (186,259 euros), and 12 percent on revenues greater than that amount. Those terms largely extend provisions found within the Small Webcaster Settlement Act (SWSA), first passed in 2002 and originally set for expiration in 2005. "Today's offer comes as a direct response to a request from the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property to 'initiate good faith private negotiations with small commercial and noncommercial webcasters with the shared goal of ensuring their continued operations and viability,'" SoundExchange explained in an official statement. The request was sent to SoundExchange last week by Representatives Howard L. Berman
(D-California) and Howard Coble (R-North Carolina).
The modified terms were described by SoundExchange as "below-market," and a "continued subsidy for these small webcasters in the form of lower payments to artists and content owners." But the conciliatory terms could help the organization preserve higher rate requirements for larger streaming broadcasters like Yahoo, AOL, and Clear Channel Radio. "Although the rates revised by the CRB are fair and based on the value of music in the marketplace, there's a sense in the music community and in Congress that small webcasters need more time to develop their businesses," said John Simson, executive director of SoundExchange. "Artists and labels are offering a below-market rate to subsidize small webcasters because Congress has made it clear that this is a policy it desires to advance, at least for the next few years." The offer would extend through 2010.
_________________
John Macy
Rockport, TX
Engineer/Producer/Steel Guitar |
|
