The Argument On Radio Rates…

Wednesday, July, 30, 2008 by Mel Phillips.

That Judiciary Senate Committee hearing on fair royalty rates in the music and radio industry yesterday was predictable with the music industry wanting more and the committee wanting equality.  No radio industry people were represented which doesn’t bode well for equality.  More than one senator spoke in support of the PERFORM Act introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) in 2006.  Feinstein chaired the hearing…

The PERFORM Act calls for “platform parity” and equal standards among all radio services which sounds like a good idea to me.  Why should Internet radio, described in yesterday’s hearing as “a fledgling industry that has unlimited potential but has less in common with old AM radio than a Model T has in common with the latest hybrid car” pay the same royalty rates that established terrestrial radio pays?  The PERFORM Act also addresses “stream ripping” or the copying of digital broadcasts of music.  Both are valid points that need to be addressed…

Almost all of those who spoke mentioned the need for a “balance that keeps in mind the overall goal of supporting a vibrant and diverse music industry where the public has access to a range of music.”  The committee vowed to “further explore these issues and look forward to working with colleagues on these very important issues.”  All of the statements can be seen on the Senate Committee’s website…

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1956] Our motto is born: By order of Congress and approved by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, “In God We Trust” becomes our national motto…
2. 1960] Pats win…Pats win…Pats win: In the 1st American Football League pre-season game, the Boston Patriots  beat the Buffalo Bills 28-7…
3. 1965] Medicaring: President Lyndon B. Johnson  signs into law, the Social Security Act, establishing Medicare and Medicaid…
4. 1970] De-Kleining: The Rolling Stones  fire Allen Klein  as their business manager…
5. 1975] Poof: Former Teamster Union president Jimmy Hoffa  disappears in suburban Detroit. Although presumed dead, his remains have never been found…
6. 1990] The Boss is banished: Yankees principal owner George Steinbrenner  is ordered by the Baseball Commissioner to resign for hiring a private detective (Howie Spira) to spy on outfielder Dave Winfield. Although banned for life, he is reinstated in 1993…
7. 1998] “Happy Trails“: Buffalo Bob Smith, Howdy Doody’s daddy, dies of lung cancer at 80. I had a picture taken with Smith and Howdy when they visited CBS-FM shortly before his death and he looked like the picture of health…2003] Sun Records founder Sam Phillips  who discovered Elvis Presley, dies of respiratory failure in Memphis at 80…2007]  Legendary football coach Bill Walsh  is a victim of leukemia at 75…
8. 2000] Wedding Bells: Jennifer Aniston  and Brad Pitt  walk down the aisle. They will divorce in 2005…
9. 2003] The last Beetle: In Mexico the last ‘old style’ Volkswagen Beetle  rolls off the assembly line…
10. 2006] Stopping the “Top“: The world’s oldest and longest running music show “Top of the Pops” is broadcast for the last time on BBC Two. The show had run for 42 years…

Music Memories:

• 1966] Number One on this date: “Yesterday…and Today” LP - Beatles (”Drive My Car” from the LP)…
• 1971] Released on this date: “Bangladesh” - George Harrison…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday“:

Jaime Pressley (31), Hilary Swank (34), Lisa Kudrow (45), Laurence Fishburne (47), Anita Hill (52), Delta Burke (52), California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (61), Paul Anka (67), Peter Bogdanovich (69), Buddy Guy (72), Bud Selig (74) and Edd “Kookie” Byrnes (75)…

Timeline Countdown: 3 days until the NFL HOF Induction and 9 days until the Summer Olympics…

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