Click here to view original web page at humanevents.com
OPINION Big Music Doesn’t Need a Bailout from Big Government
By Human Events Opinion | January 21, 2022 By Dan Perkins – New Contributor!
Big Music — in particular, the world’s largest record labels — is asking Congress to advance yet another industry bailout.
Does this major lobbying interest ever know when to say enough is enough?
Just weeks ago, the labels received a substantial legislative victory when the House of Representatives passed an amendment that advanced their HITS legislation. HITS will “aid and support artists and producers struggling with the ongoing economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic” by amending the U.S. tax code to make it cheaper and easier to produce music.
Rather than celebrate this notable victory, Big Music has already moved onto its next ask. It now wants the legislative branch to pass the American Music Fairness Act and charge local radio stations for playing music over the air.
The labels’ whole reason for existing is to maximize the exposure of artists’ music, and radio stations do it for them at no cost. What other product receives free advertising, reaching hundreds of millions of people each week? The truth is that the mass promotion of music by local radio stations is crucial for Big Music’s bottom line.
Just three months ago, the Copyright Royalty Board, the federal government’s statutory music rate setting body, acknowledged the value of radio airplay, when it wrote: “the bulk of the evidence is persuasive that labels perceive a distinct promotional value in over the air radio play of their recordings.” And yet, here Big Music is, asking to be paid for this lucrative free promotion anyway.It’s not as if the labels are struggling financially. Rolling Stone reported that the major music companies’ profits soared in 2020 — the year of chaos — which has given them […]
They’re Trying to Shut Us Down
Over the last several months, I’ve lost count of how many times the powers-that-be have tried to shut us down. They’ve sent hackers at us, forcing us to take extreme measures on web security. They sent attorneys after us, but thankfully we’re not easily intimidated by baseless accusations or threats. They’ve even gone so far as to make physical threats. Those can actually be a bit worrisome but Remington has me covered.
For us to continue to deliver the truth that Americans need to read and hear, we ask you, our amazing audience, for financial assistance. We have a Giving Fuel page to help us pay the bills. It’s brand new so don’t be discouraged by the lack of donations there. It’s a funny reality that the fewer the donations that have been made, the less likely people are willing to donate to it. One would think this is counterintuitive, but sometimes people are skeptical because they think that perhaps there’s a reason others haven’t been donating. In our situation, we’re just getting started so please don’t be shy if you have the means to help.
Thank you and God bless!
JD Rucker