The New R&R = Royalties & Rates…

Thursday, October, 2, 2008 by Mel Phillips.

At the same time NAB EVP Dennis Wharton negotiates with SoundExchange for new webcast royalty rates for his radio stations, Apple, Amazon and other music retailers are about to raise the cost of music downloads.  Ah, for the days when R&R meant Rock & Roll, Radio & Records, rest & recreation - not royalties & rates.  Unlike the economic bailout, both houses of Congress agreed to pass the Webcaster Settlement Act and the president is expected to sign it.  Webcasters and SoundExchange have until February, 2009 to work out a settlement on new royalties that would override the CRB rate.  One problem at least has been averted for a while but what about the possibility of higher download rates???

Music retailers are considering a cost increase to more than 99 cents per download if music publishers are awarded a big bump in the royalties they receive from the sale of individual tracks.  Publishers want to increase their share in download purchases by as much as 65% to 15 cents per track, up from 9.1 cents per song to offset the loss caused by the decline of CD sales.  The determining factor is today’s ruling by the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) which will decide the rate paid to music publishers on song sales for the next four years…

Brian Garrity of the New York Post says “multiple sources close to the process said that they are expecting a more modest price hike in the range of three cents, that would negate any price hike.  They also anticipate that for the first time separate publishing royalty rates will be set for songs bundled on CDs, downloadable songs and ringtones, rather than one rate for songs, regardless of format.”  Another problem averted?  Probably, but get used to the new R&R…

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1950] Premiered on this date: Charles M. Schulz’ “Peanuts” comic strip is born…1953] Edward R. Murrow’s “Person to Person” begins an 8-year run.  In this clip Edward R. Murrow interviews Marilyn Monroe…1955] “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” debuts and runs on and off until 1986…1959] “The Twilight Zone” starts a 5-year run…1961] “Ben Casey” begins a 5-season run…
2. 1967] Thurgood joins the ‘Supes’: Thurgood Marshall is sworn in as the 1st black Supreme Court Justice…
3. 1968] 17K: Bob Gibson strikes out a World Series record 17 batters as the Cardinals beat the Tigers in game one of the WS…
4. 1970] Team Tragedy: A plane carrying 30 members of the Wichita State football team crashes. All 30 are killed…
5. 1978] Bucky “Bleepin’” Dent: Yankee shortstop Bucky Dent’s 7th inning home run at Fenway Park leads the Yankees to a one-game playoff victory over the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees win the AL pennant…
6. 1980] Holmes sweet Holmes: 30-year old heavyweight champ Larry Holmes defends his title with an 11th round TKO of 38-year old Muhammad Ali…
7. 1985] “Happy Trails”: 1985] Rock Hudson dies from AIDS at 59…1998] Gene Autry, Hollywood’s “Singing Cowboy” dies from lymphoma at 91…
8. 1994] Father and Son: For the first time in NFL history, father and son coaches face each other with Papa Don Shula’s Miami Dolphins beating Dave Shula’s Cincinnati Bengals…
9. 2002] Sniper rampage begins: A man is shot and killed in a grocery store parking lot in Wheaton (MD), the 1st victim in a series of sniper attacks in the DC area that will leave 10 dead…
10. 2006] Amish massacre: A 32-year old milk truck driver kills 5 Amish girls and then turns the gun on himself in Nickel Mines, Bart Township in Lancaster County (PA)…Music Memories:

Music Memories: 

• 1965] Debuted on Shindig: The Who…

• 1985] End of the line: Bruce Springsteen’s “Born In The U.S.A.” tour ends in Los Angeles…

Commentary:

A reminder about the WNBC get-together tomorrow (Friday) night at Hurley’s (232 West 48th between B’way & 8th) at 6.  Former employees of WNBC will gather in a private room to toast the sign off of the legendary station on October 7, 1988.  There will be no entrance fee and drinks and dinner are dutch.  I hope to see you there…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday”:
Tiffany (37), Kelly Ripa (38), Lorraine Bracco (54), Sting (57), Donna Karan (60), Don McLean (63), Rex Reed (70) and Maury Wills (76)…

Timeline Countdown: 21 days until the 1st game of the World Series and 29 days until Halloween…

Posted in Today's Post | No Comments »