They’ll Be Dancing In The Streets In Detroit…

Friday, May, 29, 2009 by Mel Phillips.

(Weekend Edition)

He didn’t have time for those opposed to the Performance Rights Act but Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) has plenty of time for the act’s proponents.  It’s party time next week on the 13th floor at the City-County building in Detroit.  Conyers is hosting a blowout for those who worship at his feet for sponsoring the controversial bill which would tax all terrestrial radio stations for the music they play.  The lineup of guests is an impressive group of former hitmakers including Sam (Sam & Dave) Moore, Dionne Warwick, Duke Fakir of the Four Tops and Councilwoman/Motown star Martha Reeves.  But support for opponents of the bill aren’t standing idly by while Detroit parties…

The National Association of Broadcaster’s is asking stations to participate in its ongoing battle against the Performance Rights Act with its “Don’t Tax That Dial” competition.  Stations are being asked to create and air 30-second spots opposing the bill for the contest.  The winning entry (not picked by Conyers) will receive $2,500 and recognition at the NAB Radio Show in Philadelphia, along with free show registration for two, airfare and hotel accommodations.  The competition is open to U.S. over-the-air stations with entries due by 11 p.m. ET on July 31.  Rules, guidelines and other information can be found at www.noperformancetax.org …

Lee Gomes of Forbes.com is convinced that the fight against the bill will fail, “It’s a battle the broadcasters should lose, if only for the disingenuousness of their arguments, and in fact seems to be what is occurring.”  Gomes refers to “Lobbyists for America’s radio stations who’ve coined the phrase ‘RIAA tax’ as part of a full-throttle, but utterly misleading, anti-copyright campaign they’re waging right now on Capitol Hill.”  Although I haven’t heard the bill referred to in that term, Gomes is probably right about radio losing the battle.  Gomes questions the “conventional wisdom about the supposedly artist-friendly nature of free radio airplay.”  He also adds that “with the internet, artists have many more ways of gaining exposure for themselves besides local disk jockeys.”  Ouch!!!      

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1879] The world’s most famous arena: Madison Square Garden opens to the public at Fifth Avenue & 23rd Street (5/31). Harper’s Weekly describes it as “grimy, drafty and combustible.” Wait till they see the Knicks play…
2. 1889] Damn it all: The Johnstown (PA) flood kills more than 2,000 after a dam breaks sending tons of water rushing through the city (5/31)…
3. 1907] Taxiiiiiiii: The first taxis in the U.S. arrive in New York City followed by an increase in traffic accidents (5/31)…
4. 1922] Supes Rule: The Supreme Court rules that organized baseball is not a business and exempts the sport from antitrust laws and interstate commercial rules. Uh, they might want to rethink that ruling (5/29)…
5. 1953] Because it was there: Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay become the first climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest (5/29)…
6. 1970] The people’s choice: Baseball’s All-Star Game voting returns to the fans so they can vote .220 hitters into the game (5/30). You’ve gotta have a criteria for voting, people…
7. 1973] Gotcha: Columbia Records President Clive Davis is fired for allegedly misappropriating company funds. Clive continues to thrive in his 70s (5/29) after making a remarkable comeback…
8. 1982] They call it the streak: 21-year old Baltimore third baseman Cal Ripken Jr. begins his consecutive game streak (5/30). He will eventually move to shortstop but his streak will last more than 13 years and 3 months and break Lou Gehrig’s previous consecutive game streak record…
9. 1998] ‘Happy Trails’: Former Arizona Senator and Republican presidential candidate Barry “Mr. Conservative” Goldwater dies at 89 from complications of a stroke (5/29)…
10. 2005] Vanishing teen: American teen Natalee Holloway is last seen leaving a bar with three young men while vacationing in Aruba before disappearing (5/30). Her body has never been found…

Music Memories:

• 1942] Recorded on this date: “White Christmas“ - Bing Crosby (5/29)…
• 1957] Number One on this date: “Love Letters In The Sand” - Pat Boone (5/31)…1963] “It’s My Party” - Lesley Gore (5/30)…1971] “Brown Sugar” - Rolling Stones (5/29)…1972] “I’ll Take You There” - Staple Singers (5/31)…
• 1969] Released on this date: “Crosby, Stills and Nash” LP (5/29).  From the LP…1969] “My Cherie Amour” - Stevie Wonder (5/31)…1982] “Combat Rock” LP - Clash (5/31). From the LP…1982] “Eye Of The Tiger” - Survivor (5/31)…1987] “I Want Your Sex” - George Michael (5/29)…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday”: (5/29) Melanie (”Scary Spice“) Brown (34), Melissa Etheridge (48), Annette Bening (51), Bob Simon(68), Al Unser Sr. (70) and former baseball commish Fay Vincent (71)…(5/30) Manny Ramirez (37), Wynonna Judd (45), Gayle Sayers (66), Clint “Cheyenne” Walker (82)…(5/31) Colin Farrell (33), Robert Dean Phillips (42), Brooke Shields (44), Joe Namath (66), Peter Yarrow (71) and Clint Eastwood (79)…

Timeline Countdown: 23 days until Father’s Day, 23 days until summer and 36 days until July 4th…

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