All Radio Eyes Are On The Senate Today…

Thursday, October, 8, 2009 by Mel Phillips.

It may not be as serious as H1N1 but S.379 is on the docket today. Unlike H1N1 there’s no vaccine available to prevent S.379. That job falls to, for starters — the Senate Judiciary Committee with a House Committee vote eventually coming too.  There are other matters on the Senate Judiciary agenda today such as loud commercials and low power FM and things of this nature as the Governator would say, but none is more important or wide-reaching as S.379 — the Performance Rights Act…

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock somewhere, you know that the Performance Rights Act would levy a tax on terrestrial radio for playing music. You also know that MusicFirst, the coalition of record labels, artists and musicians says the PRA would close a loophole in copyright law that will bring terrestrial radio in line with fees paid by Internet and satellite radio. The National Association of Broadcasters says the measure ignores the free publicity new artists and labels receive through airplay and fees would cripple stations already struggling in the tough economy. Those that support the Local Radio Freedom Act, a resolution opposing the PRA effort numbers 251 House members and 25 senators…

There are no predictions coming from Capitol Hill on possible results coming out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on S.379, just that Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and the man who never sleeps — Chuck Schumer (D-NY) will be there to present their views. S.379 is second on the agenda when the party begins at 9:30 this morning…

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1871] We didn’t start the fire: The Great Fire of Chicago kills 250 and leaves 90,000 homeless. Four square miles of the Windy City (named for loud-mouthed politicians not the gusty winds) is destroyed…
2. 1918] This is a hero: Sgt. Alvin C. York almost single-handedly kills 25 German soldiers and captures 132 more in the Argonne Forest in France. York is awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor…
3. 1938] Turning the tables: The cover of “The Saturday Evening Post” has a portrait of Norman Rockwell…
4. 1944] Premiered on this date: The radio show, “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” debuts…
5. 1956] Perfecto: Yankees pitcher Don Larsen becomes the 1st and only pitcher to throw not only a no-hitter but a perfect game in the World Series, over Brooklyn 2-0 at Yankee Stadium. It was never done before or since…
6. 1967] Gotcha: Guerrilla leader Che Guevara of Cuba, and his men are captured in Bolivia…
7. 1973] Basebrawl: A brawl erupts in Game 3 of the National League playoffs between the Mets and Reds as Pete Rose and Bud Harrelson duke it out at second base. The Mets win the game 9-2 to take a 3-2 edge in games. They will win the series and move on to the World Series against Oakland. This they lose…
8. 1991] Hallowed ground: A slave burial site is found by construction workers in lower Manhattan. The ‘Negro Burial Ground’ had been closed in 1790. Over a dozen skeletons were found…
9. 2003] Wedding Bells: Vivendi Universal and General Electric announce an agreement to merge into NBC Universal. Next up, Comcast? It could happen…
10. 2004] Not a good thing: Martha Stewart begins her 5-month jail sentence for lying about a stock sale…

Music Memories:

1957] Recorded on this date: “Great Balls of Fire” - Jerry Lee Lewis…
1971] Released on this date: “Imagine” - John Lennon…1977] “The Stranger” LP - Billy Joel…

         

Commentary:

Congratulations to Morning Mayor Harry Harrison, one of six radio/TV personalities voted into the New York State Broadcasters Association’s Hall of Fame. Also enshrined on November 12 will be Rick Gary, Charles Osgood, Marie Rice, Brother Wease aka Alan Levin and Don Weeks. For more information on the NYSBA Hall of Fame enshrinement click here…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday“:  Matt Damon (39), Emily (”CSI Miami”) Procter (41), Darrell Hammond (54), Robert “Kool” Bell (59), Sigourney Weaver (60), Chevy Chase (66), Jesse Jackson (68), Paul Hogan (70) and Rona Barrett (73)…

Timeline Countdown: 20 days until the World Series opener, 23 nights until Halloween and 24 days until standard time…

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