Senate Judiciary Committee Turns Its Back On Radio…

Friday, October, 16, 2009 by Mel Phillips.

(Weekend Edition)

Raise your hand if you were surprised by the passage of the Performance Rights Act by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Can you see mine? Some of us may have been surprised but not those representing radio. A National Association of Broadcasters spokesman says the Senate committee vote was “fully expected” because that’s where the RIAA enjoys its greatest support. The NAB rep. noted that several members of the committee expressed opposition and that Sen. Arlen Specter said it would be some time before any legislation would reach the floor. The NAB believes it has 251 House and 26 Senate members on its side of the issue, enough to defeat any legislation in the full bodies, including the latest supporter, Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma…

So what’s next? The PRA will now go to the full Senate floor and eventually the House will follow, scheduling the bill for a full vote and we might even see it in our lifetime. Things move very slowwwwly in Congress and the PRA will become just another bill that must be acted on – later rather than sooner.  And how does the public feel about performance royalties? According to a National Association of Broadcasters-sponsored survey three-quarters of Americans don’t support a performance royalty. Eighty-five percent feel there’s a promotional value to artists who receive airplay…

So the fight over the PRA goes on. While the RIAA and MusicFIRST celebrate this victory they should be cautioned that this is but a battle in the war and it’s not over yet…  

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1954] Bad call-letter move: WNBC Radio changes calls to WRCA but not for long. The call-letters will soon revert back to good ole WNNNNNBC (10/18)…
2. 1962] One picture is worth a thousand words: Reconnaissance photos reveal missile bases in Cuba (10/16)…
3. 1965] That’s fair: The 1964-1965 World’s Fair closes after two years. More than 51 million people attended, including this WMID jock who did a remote back to Atlantic City for two days with music and commercials from the New York State Pavilion via phone line (10/17)…
4. 1969] Truly Amazin’: The New York Mets win their 1st World Series as a harmless fly ball hit by future Mets manager Davey Johnson drops into Cleon Jones’ glove: Everyone in the programming dept. at WRKO watched the game in VP/GM Perry S. Ury’s office (10/16)…
5. 1977] Reggie-Reggie-Reggie: Reggie Jackson makes World Series history with back-to-back-to-back home runs, each on the first pitch. No one did it before or since (10/18)…
6. 1978] Pinstripe parade: The Yankees beat the Dodgers in 6 games to repeat as World Champs (10/17). This clip features Diane Munson, Goose Gossage and the World Series Trophy..1984] Lou Piniella is named Yankee manager (10/17)…1988] Dallas Green replaces Sweet Lou as Yankee manager (10/17)…
7. 1987] Baby Jessica: Rescuers free ‘Baby Jessica’ (McClure) from the Midland (TX) well she fell in. Jessica, 18-months old, was trapped for 58 hours yet survived (10/16)…
8. 1989] A whole lotta shaking going on: A funny thing happened on the way to game 3 of the Oakland-San Francisco World Series - an earthquake. The Giants sweep the A’s in 4 games when the series resumes a few days later (10/17)…
9. 2002] Something else to worry about: The White House announces that North Korea has disclosed it has a nuclear weapons program (10/16)…
10. 2007] “Happy Trails“: Comedian Joey Bishop dies of natural causes at 89 (10/17)…2007] 50s singing sensation Teresa Brewer passes away from neuromuscular disease at 76 (10/17)…2008] Levi Stubbs, lead singer of the Four Tops dies in his sleep at 72 (10/17)…2008] Singer Dee Dee Warwick passes away at 63. Warwick had been in failing health for some time at the time of her death (10/18)..

Music Memories:

• 1956] Premiered on this date: The Elvis movie “Love Me Tender“ (10/16)…
• 1957] Released on this date: “You Send Me” - Sam Cooke (10/16)…1964] “She’s Not There” - Zombies (10/17)…1970] “After Midnight” - Eric Clapton (10/17)…1971] “Theme From Shaft” - Isaac Hayes (10/16)…
• 1957] Debuted on this date: Paul McCartney makes his first appearance with the Quarry Men in Liverpool (10/18)…
• 1962] Number One on this date: “Monster Mash” - Bobby “Boris” Pickett & the Crypt Kickers (10/17). In 1973 it reaches the top 10…1972] “My Ding-a-Ling” - Chuck Berry (his only #1 hit) (10/17)…1976] “If You Leave Me Now” - Chicago (10/18)…1999] “Supernatural” - Santana (10/17). Santana’s first Number One hit in 28 years…

Commentary:

The 22nd Annual Walk for the Hospice of the North Shore (MA) honors the lives, courage and memories of loved ones and raises funds to provide care to those in need throughout the North Shore Community. The 3-mile walk will begin Sunday, October 18 at Cronin Memorial Stadium in Danvers at 9 am. For additional information go to events@hns.org Paul Power and his friends will be participating. Good luck people and I hope it’s dry for the walk…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday“: (10/16) John Mayer (32), Wendy Wilson (40), Tim Robbins (51), Bob Weir (62), Suzanne Summers (63), Tim McCarver (68), Barry Corbin(69) and Angela Lansbury (84)…(10/17) Wyclef Jean (37), Marshall Bruce Mathers III aka Eminem (37), Ziggy Marley (41), Norm MacDonald (46), Mike Judge (47), George Wendt (61), Margot Kidder (61), Michael McKean (62), Gary Puckett (67), Jim Seals(68) and Jimmy Breslin (79)…(10/18) Wynton Marsalis (47), Jean-Claude Van Damme (49), Martina Navratilova (53), Pam Dawber (58), Mike Ditka (70), Keith Jackson(81) and Chuck Berry (83)…

Timeline Countdown: The ALCS playoffs start tonight, 12 days until the World Series opener, 15 nights until Halloween and 16 days until Standard Time (back one hour)…

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