so at this point i’m sure that most of you know that on june 20th a copyright appeals board passed a law that will essentially make it impossible for most web-based radio stations to stay in business.
as far as i know, this law was sponsored and promoted by the riaa (recording industry association of america).
i shouldn’t write this update, because i’m really pissed off. what does the riaa hope to accomplish by forcing hundreds of wonderful internet radio stations to shut down?
and why is the riaa even involved in the world of internet-radio? isn’t the public performance and broadcast of music something that’s covered by publishing?
i shouldn’t post this update, seeing as it’s not in any musicians best interests to piss off the riaa, but for the life of me i can’t see any wisdom or justification in passing an arbitrary law that will only serve to shut down a lot of really cool and vital internet radio stations.
if possible, i would like to lend my support to the cause of repealing this unneccessary and ass-backwards piece of legislation. for as commercial radio becomes more and more conservative, internet based radio serves an ever more vital role in exposing people to new and unconventional music.
shutting down internet radio stations just ensures that music in america will become more bland and more homogenous.
i would like to end this update by quoting mark cuban, founder of broadcast.com:
“”there is no law against an industry being stupid and killing off their customer base as the music industry is doing. the vast majority of (internet radio) stations will either shut down or move to canada or overseas.””
moby
