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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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5

Fading Radio, Recording Outfits Clash Over Royalties

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(Newser) – The recording industry and radio-station owners are clashing in Washington over the issue of royalties, Bloomberg reports. Both sides have spent tens of millions on lobbying, and contributed to the campaigns of legislators of both parties. At present, radio stations pay royalties to songwriters and publishers, not artists. “This issue is one of fundamental fairness,” said Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan.

Corgan testified on Capitol Hill as spokesman for the industry. His opposite number, a Kentucky station owner, told legislators radio stations are “the best friend of artists and record labels.” Both industries have seen a plunge in revenue in recent years. Radio says royalties could take 20% of their profits, cutting into basic services like news. The recording industry says numbers like that are “scare tactics.”

Clear Channel, which owns many stations nationwide, is in the mix.
Clear Channel, which owns many stations nationwide, is in the mix.   (AP Photo)
Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan arrives on Capitol Hill.
Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan arrives on Capitol Hill.   (AP Photo)
Bob Shannon, radio personality on New York's WCBS-FM.
Bob Shannon, radio personality on New York's WCBS-FM.   (AP Photo)
Billy Corgan and a union representative on Capitol Hill.
Billy Corgan and a union representative on Capitol Hill.   (AP Photo)
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5 comments
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Observer
Apr 3, 09 5:55 PM CDT
Yeah - Poor Clear Channel - Neo-Nazi Bush cronies that despise the people that make them huge profits. Funny how artists were cut out of the money not the lobbiests and lawyers. Typical. Reply
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sailor86
Apr 3, 09 6:18 PM CDT
As much as I feel for recording artists like Mr. Corgan, the entertainment industry is not based on "fundamental fairness." It's cold business. Billy's got legions of fans that will help him out if need be. He need not despair so. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
Robert_Dada
Apr 3, 09 6:42 PM CDT
Really? Legions of fans illegally download. I hardly think that's helping.
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iamdakotah
Apr 4, 09 2:11 PM CDT
music stolen by the "legions" doesn't hurt artists signed to huge media conglomerates. Artists under flags like WB and Sony make their money from record advances and tours, not album sales. Independent artists who publish and own all their own music suffer, that's why it's important to buy their music or at the very least go to the concert and buy the merch. That's the honest artist's bread and butter. Artists like metallica and Mr. Corgan publicly end up the record company butt boys and the so called face for the fight of Royalties. Reply
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wwwonderer
Apr 6, 09 1:24 PM CDT
Artists NEVER make money off royalties and (record/cd/MP3) sales, labels do. An artist WILL LIVE AND DIE by personal appearance/concerts/tours/shows. Always have and always will. Prince, Rolling Stones, etc, all continue to tour and put on shows even when there is no "new album/single" to keep fans. It is a common illusion of the game. Been it it before. This is one sof the reasons why ANYONE can make good music in the studio. It takes a real artists to display showmanship and make yourself unique. I constantly laugh at all the wannabes in life, constantly imitating someone else's success. Be original . This is the problem with hip hop -a gazzillion people constantly talking about their women, their cars, their money, their criminal empire. And not that that doesn't ENTERTAINMENT value. But what makes one's Bentley better than the 30 guys before that mentioned their Bentley? Most of the time the video is more interesting than a live performance. Lost of times it's a bunch of people on stage looking like a still-life painting. If the msuic industry wasn't so hollow and shallow, this wouldn't be much of a problem.Bottom line: always get a piece of the writing and/or publishing deal if you can, screw points. Reply
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Congress • royalties • RIAA • radio stations • testimony • revenue • recording industry • Billy Corgan • Smashing Pumpkins

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