metalaw

Senators Comment on Webcasting Rates as “Unfounded”

metalaw — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 22:39:25 +0000

Senators Brownback and Wyden promise action in September if Webcasting Royalty rate situation is not remedied. See their press release from 2 August 2007, here….

Webcasters Situation Worsens as SoundExchange Claims DiMA has Misrepresented Deal

metalaw — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 05:31:16 +0000

Reportedly talks have broken down again between the webcasters represented by Jon Potter and Digital Media Association (DiMA) and Sound Exchange (the RIAA appointed collection agent for digital performance royalties from webcasters).

For more details see the Wired News Article Summary of Letters Exchanged between SoundExchange (RIAA) and DiMA – link

It is important to note that if the deal breaks down due to a lack of communication, disinformation or even a real misunderstanding — SoundExchange falls back on the exorbitant rate set by the Copyright Royalty Board, which will reportedly cripple many webcasters (particularly the small ones).

A big round of Applause to Congressman Markey and his staff for trying to get this resolved. It may be the Congressman’s intervention that will make all the difference here.

[Disclosure - I am a former DiMA Board Member and EVP Strategy and General Counsel at Live365 and was involved in the first negotiations on webcaster royalty]

Webcasters Fate Still Uncertain

metalaw — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 23:04:21 +0000

Here is a link to a Washington Post Article on continuing uncertainty surrounding the webcasting rates…

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/16/AR2007071601484.html

Day of Silence on Internet Radio

metalaw — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 04:26:28 +0000

Today, 26 June 2007 is a Day of Silence on Internet Radio to protest the exorbitant royalties being imposed on webcasters.

New Music – “Thou Shalt Always Kill”

metalaw — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 23:38:43 +0000

Cool new track from Dan Le Sac VS. Scroobius Pip entitled “Thou Shalt Always Kill” as in always play a killer set, proves that you can discover new music on the radio (unbelievable but true) — I heard it first on Indie 103.1 in Los Angeles — the track is not yet available in the US, but you can watch it on You Tube…

Also, here is an interview with the artists Dan Le Sac (the beat) and Scroobius Pip (the rap) on You Tube… where believe it or not they have to explain that they meant “kill” as in perform well, not murder…

You can buy it on UK Version of iTunes or www.bleep.com

Women as Art

metalaw — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 22:32:04 +0000

500 years of paintings of Women, morphing together — a wonderful video.

Coachella 27-29 April 2006

metalaw — Tue, 08 May 2007 23:23:57 +0000

We were lucky to be camping @ Coachella, and present for the reunion of Rage Against the Machine, and other performances by great artists including Bjork, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Roots, Willie Nelson, Interpol, Lily Allen, Amos Lee, Paul van Dyk,
Soulwax, et. Al. — last weekend in the California desert. Here are a couple of photographs from the shows and campground:

Zack de la Rocha of RATM

RATM on Stage

Coachella Camping

Coachella Dome

Kings of Leon and the Coachella Crowd

Coachella Art Installation

Sign the Petition to Save Internet Radio

metalaw — Fri, 04 May 2007 08:41:12 +0000

The Save Internet Radio Petition is online with over 44,000 signature.

Save Internet Radio!

metalaw — Wed, 02 May 2007 17:52:23 +0000

It looks like it will take an act of the United States Congress to save Internet radio, once again!

Congratulations to two legislators (U.S. Reps. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) and Don Manzullo (R-Ill.)) who have introduced a bill called the

Inslee-Manzullo Internet Radio Equality Act, H.R. 2060 – see the bill here.

You can read their press release on the bill.