In a strange twist of fate the cartel is asking artists to take a smaller cut of the cake from royalties, this is despite the fact the artist gets less than 10% already
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080205-riaa-dima-want-to-slash-songwriter-royalties-for-digital-music.htmlHow much money will songwriters make? That's the question before the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) here in the US as the judges have launched a rate setting procedure that will determine—for the first time—what songwriters get for digital downloads and streaming music. Not surprisingly, the issue has become contentious.
On the one side are the music labels (represented by the RIAA) and the digital media companies (represented by DiMA) that stream and sell music over the Internet.
As the music industry suffers a downturn in overall revenues, these groups argue that songwriters have to accept less money in order to keep the whole industry alive.
But the songwriters don't have an interest in being kneecapped by lower rates for their work. David Israelite heads the National Music Publishers' Association, and he argues that the rates for digital distribution ought to go up, on the theory that digital distribution costs far less than physical distribution and there's more profit to be shared
The basic point being made by the artists representative is unassailable, they deserve their cut of the revenue and I dont see anyone claiming otherwise who isnt on the cartels payroll, could I perhaps give some help here Cary ?
Ask your members to eat less, drink less, and to steer clear of expensive drug habits and hookers, I guarantee this will generate substancial savings that could make all the difference in this dispute
