Just 18 More Signatures Needed For A Majority…

Wednesday, May, 20, 2009 by Mel Phillips.

The House will have its majority for passage of the Local Radio Freedom Act with 18 more autographs but they better hurry.  Just last week YouTube was ordered by a New York district judge to fork over $1.61 million in royalties to U.S. songwriters and $70,000 per month going forward.  ASCAP had asked for $12 million for all music streamed between 2005 and the end of 2008 and another $7 million for 2009.  YouTube countered with $79,500 for 2005 through the end of 2008 and then $20,000 per quarter ongoing.  The court rejected both proposals.  That case is ongoing.  The New York District Court ruling will not override the final settlement of the original case brought by ASCAP…

It’s interesting to note that the Local Freedom Act resolution picked up 8 new House members since the House Judiciary Committee approved the Performance Rights Act last week.  That Act, if passed, would, for the first time impose performance royalties on terrestrial radio.  On the other hand, The Local Radio Freedom Act is a non-binding resolution and doesn’t have the force of law or guarantee that a given member of the House will ultimately vote against the Performance Rights Act, but the support for it does give a sense of the feelings on the issue among legislators.  Feelings, schmeelings - it’s called false security…

YouTube did the right thing, they found a ‘Sugar Daddy’ in Universal, signing a joint venture deal with the music group.  Terrestrial radio will never find a ‘Sugar Daddy’…   

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1873] Truly riveting: Levi Strauss receives a patent for using rivets to strengthen the pockets of the jeans he manufactures…
2. 1899] Pedal to the metal: Jacob Erman of New York City becomes the first U.S. driver to be arrested for speeding. He exceeded the 12 MPH speed limit but wasn’t quite as crazy as the guy seen in the video…
3. 1916] Solid as a Rockwell: Norman Rockwell’s artwork, “Mother’s Day Off” appears on the first cover of “The Saturday Evening Post”…
4. 1927] Lucky Lindy: Charles Lindbergh takes off from Long Island’s Roosevelt Field to cross the Atlantic en route to Paris aboard “The Spirit of St. Louis“…
5. 1932] Also winging it: Amelia Earhart takes off to fly solo across the Atlantic becoming the first woman to achieve the feat…1939] Pan Am begins regular service from New York when a “Yankee Clipper” takes off from the harbor in Port Washington (LI)… 
6. 1961] Freedom Riders: Federal marshals are sent into Montgomery (AL) when a white mob attacks a busload of “Freedom Riders“…
7. 1976] Red Sox-Yankees duke it out: Carl Yastrzemski hits 2 home runs, giving him 5 in 2 games, an ML record in an 8-2 Red Sox win over the Yankees as a melee breaks out resulting in Bill Lee injuring his pitching arm. The fight starts when Lou Piniella barrels into catcher Carlton Fisk. Lee, “The Spaceman” will never fully recover…
8. 1977] Beatlemania breaks out: The musical “Beatlemania” opens at the Winter Garden Theater in Manhattan…
9. 1989] ‘Happy Trails’: SNL comedian Gilda Radner dies from cervical cancer at 42…
10. 1993] Curtains: “Cheers” closes its doors for the final time with 40% of the population or nearly 100 million watching at home…

Music Memories:

• 1967] Signed, sealed, delivered on this date: Jimi Hendrix signs a contract with Reprise Records. His first release on Reprise is the LP “Are You Experienced” which includes “Foxy Lady“, “Hey Joe” and “Purple Haze“…
• 1971] Released on this date: “What’s Going On“ LP - Marvin Gaye…

Commentary:

Dickie Robinson, the guy who founded the Connecticut School of Broadcasting in 1964 has won approval to buy back the bankrupt business and campuses in seven states for about $1 million.  Dick’s three adult children, Jill Xiarhos, Missy Petow and Jim Robinson will run the operation for him.  Welcome back Dickie…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday”: David Wells (46), Ron Reagan (51), NY Gov. David Paterson (55), comedian Dave Thomas (60), Cher (63), Joe Cocker (65) and Sadaharu Oh (69)…

Timeline Countdown: 5 days until Memorial Day, 32 days until Father’s Day, 32 days until summer and 45 days until July 4th…

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