Royalty Bill Hearing Set For August 4…

Friday, July, 24, 2009 by Mel Phillips.

(Weekend Edition)

After all the opinionated posturing, politicking and pronouncements by pundits both pro and con on the subject of music royalties, the Senate Judiciary Committee has finally scheduled a hearing on the Performance Royalty Bill, August 4th.  Variety reports that Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) will preside over the Senate hearing.  Those taking sides in the issue are divided between radio loyalists and the music business.  The number of those opposed to airplay royalties has swollen to 244 House members and 23 Senators.  The number of House and Senate proponents of the bill is part of the public record but not often published.  It’s safe to say that they form the minority opinion…

Neither support of or opposition to the bill is partisan.  It’s split right down the middle.  There is only one clear dividing line — terrestrial radio and the music industry.  The Senate Judiciary Committee is headed by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), who sponsored the performance bill.  Feinstein is a co-sponsor along with Senators Boxer (D-CA), Schumer (D-NY), Corker (R-Tenn), Hatch (R-Utah) and Alexander (R-Tenn)…

The big question going into these hearings is whether or not the panelists can be “fair and impartial” on the subject of the performance bill.  It’s the same question asked of all potential jurists.  It should be no different for the Senate Judiciary Committee…       

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1948] Final Bambino Sighting: Babe Ruth is seen publicly for the last time attending the premiere of “The Babe Ruth Story” in Manhattan (7/26)…
2. 1956] Tragedy at sea: The Stockholm collides with the Andrea Doria off the coast of Nantucket. Survivors number 1,660 but 51, including the crew, goes down with the ship (7/25). The Andrea Doria lies in 200 feet of water, 45 miles south of Nantucket. Divers continue to brave the depth and sharks in order to salvage valuables that still remain…
3. 1965] Curtains: At the age of 75 and nursing a broken hip, Casey Stengel calls it quits as manager of the New York Mets (7/24)…1978] A tearful Billy Martin gives his famous “One is a born liar, the other a convict” speech. The liar was Reggie Jackson, the convict - George Steinbrenner. With that statement made, Billy Martin “retired” as Yankee manager (7/24)…
4. 1969] Splashdown: The Apollo 11 astronauts (Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins) splash down safely in the Pacific Ocean after their historic walk on the moon (7/24)…
5. 1978] Tubular belle: Louise Joy Brown, the first test-tube baby is born. Louise is a happily married postal employee with a 3-year old son, born naturally. Louise will be celebrating her 31st birthday (7/25)…
6. 1981] I started to choke: New York Mayor Ed Koch is given the Heimlich maneuver when he chokes on Chinese food. It saves his life (7/26)…
7. 1983] The Pine Tar game: A George Brett home run is taken away from him for using too much pine tar on his bat. The score reverts back to 4-3 Yankees (7/24). Mel and Rob Phillips see Brett go berserk at Yankee Stadium. AL President Lee MacPhail overrules the umpires and the home run counts. The game is resumed on August 18th with KC winning the game 5-4 after the Yankees fail to score in the 9th inning…
8. 1990] Rosanne Boo: Rosanne Barr gets booed in San Diego for her disgraceful singing of the “Star Spangled Banner”. Following her mangling of the song, she grabs her crotch and spits on the ground (7/25)…
9. 1992] “Happy Trails“: Mary Wells, Motown’s first Diva, dies from larynx cancer, first diagnosed in 1990. Mary was just 49 (7/26)…
10. 1997] Going to Hall: Giants owner Wellington Mara and Dolphins coach Don Shula gain entrance into the NFL Hall of Fame (7/26)…

Music Memories:

• 1956] Curtains: Following a performance at the Copa, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis split up a partnership that began 10 years earlier on July 24, 1946 at the 500 Club in Atlantic City (7/24). Frank Sinatra would get the two together for this MDA Telethon reunion…
• 1963] Released on this date: “Mickey’s Monkey” - Smokey Robinson & Miracles (7/26)…1966] “You Can’t Hurry Love” - Supremes (7/25)…1970] “25 or 6 to 4” - Chicago (7/25)…1971] “Surf’s Up” (LP) - Beach Boys (7/25)…
• 1965] Plugged in: Bob Dylan goes electric in his first non-acoustic set at the Newport Jazz Festival (7/25)…
• 1980] Still swinging at 65: Frank Sinatra celebrates his 65th birthday with 3 nights at Carnegie Hall (7/24).  Here’s Sinatra in 1984…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday“: (7/24) Bindi Irwin (11), Anna Paquin (27), Jennifer Lopez (40), Kristin Chenoweth (41), Barry Bonds (45), Lynda Carter (58), Michael Richards (60), Dan Hedaya (69) and Ruth Buzzi (73)…(7/25) Max Brady Litt (B) Billy Wagner (38), Matt LeBlanc (42) and Iman (54)…(7/26) Kate Beckinsale (36), Jeremy Piven (44), Sandra Bullock (45), Kevin Spacey (50), Dorothy Hamill (53), Mick Jagger (66), Brenton Wood (68), Dobie Gray (69), Darlene Love (71) and Blake Edwards (87)…

Timeline Countdown: 2 days until the MLB HOF induction of Jim Rice and Rickey Henderson, 15 days until the NFL HOF induction, 45 days until Labor Day and 48 days until the NFL opener…      

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