Music Fairy

Radio Play State of the Music

Disaster looms! Two days ago now a federal court denied a plea to delay the massive increase in rates webcasters must pay the record labels. This means that, absent immediate Congressional action, the new ruinous royalty rates will be going into effect on Monday threatening the future of all internet radio.

People can actually help stop this by calling their Congressional representatives in the Senate and asking them to force immediate action on the Internet Radio Equality Act and bring the bill to a vote. It is critical that their phones begin ringing off the hook starting early in the morning. If it’s busy, please try again later.

Senator Christopher J. Dodd: (202) 224-2823

Senator Joseph I. Lieberman: (202) 224-4041

Basically these New rates signal day Web-radio music dies.

Every band dreams of the lucky night it’ll be discovered by a music promoter or favorite record label. Overnight you’ve got a hot record, radio stations everywhere playing your songs and your band becomes a household name. It’s the classic musician’s fairy tale.

But it is a fairy tale and, for every new artist who is discovered by a major record label, there are thousands who aren’t. For the rest of us, pursuing a career in music is hard. Now, proposed new royalty rates for Internet radio threaten to make it harder. The Copyright Royalty Board recently issued catastrophic royalty rate hikes — increases from 300 to 1,200 percent — which are set to take effect July 15. And some of the increases will be retroactive to January of last year.

While music artists certainly benefit from royalties, this kind of royalty rate hike will mean bankruptcy for almost every Webcaster. Music is a labor of love for many Webcasters, as it is for so many musicians. A significant number of small Internet radio stations already operate at a loss; they carry on because of their commitment to the music they play. A dramatic rate hike is more than most can bear.

Right now, independent artists make up less than 10 percent of what’s played on broadcast radio, but on Internet radio, we make up about 37 percent.

The reality is if our representatives in Congress allow these new royalty rates to go into effect — and it’s within Congress’ power to decide — it’ll make it far harder for independent artists like us to make it. Worse for those of us who are also music fans, online radio will start to sound a whole lot more like broadcast radio. Millions of people whose musical tastes aren’t served by broadcast radio will be left without an alternative.

While we’ve become believers in Internet radio for selfish reasons — as both artists and listeners — the principle of creating a marketplace encouraging artistic entrepreneurs stands on its own. It should be no surprise that the Internet, which has been the source of innovation in so many different industries, has been the home of and outlet for innovation in the music industry.

From an artists perspective, killing Internet radio means that thousands of great bands will go undiscovered — and that’s nothing but bad news for artists.

Killing Internet radio will not only stifle the great technology we have now, it will also stifle the innovation of even better, newer and more exciting ways to enjoy music — and that’s nothing but bad news for all of us.

So while you may think that Internet Radio is not going to suffer, think again. These stations that broadcast music are not making massive amounts of ad revenue to begin with. A push towards these higher royalty fees is no doubt going to hurt the amount of fresh music you will get to hear.

About the Author

Robert Wittert

http://www.buyitlowsales.com

A Music Fairy Trailer – Nazia Hassan

Barbie A Fashion Fairytale Transforming Fashion Doll $19.43 BARBIE TM A FASHION FAIRYTALE BARBIE® Doll: In the new movie, BarbieTM A Fashion Fairytale, Barbie® stars as herself in her famous fashion show outfit that transforms from a “princess gown” to a “party couture dress.” With the press of a button, Barbie® doll’s bodice magically lights up and is synchronized to music from the movie’s fashion show finale. To transform the dress, fold down the top …

Fairy Tale Jewelry Box $13.99 Absolutely adorable and sure to be a treasure for your little girl (or the little girl in you) is this cool Fairy Tale musical Jewelry Chest. So girly and just TOO CUTE. The goldtone latch on front, the lid mirror and the windup key make this a classic design sure to be cherished. Measures approximately 6″ wide. It is made with fiberboard construction with beautiful images of flowers and fairi…

Schylling Flower Fairy Jewelry Box $16.99 This darling fairy jewelry box is part of the Flower Fairies Friends Collection. This jewelry box has a domed lid, as well as an extra drawer on the bottom. It measures 6″ x 4″.Part of the Flower Fairies CollectionHas separate drawerGreat for storing little treasuresHave slots to store ringsMeasures 6″ x 4″Recommended Ages: 3 years & Up…

Sleeping Beauty (Two-Disc Platinum Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo + BD Live) [Blu-ray] $34.00 Disney’s 1959 animated effort was the studio’s most ambitious to date, a widescreen spectacle boasting a gorgeous waltz-filled score adapting Tchaikovsky. In the 14th century, the malevolent Maleficent (not dissimilar to the wicked Queen in Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs taunts a king that his infant Aurora will fatally prick her finger on a spinning wheel before sundown on her 16th birt…

Pinocchio (Two-Disc 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo + BD Live) [Blu-ray] $35.99 PINOCCHIO 70TH ANNIVERSARY PLATINUM E – Blu-Ray Mo…

Fairy $199.99 Fairy

Funky Punk Fairy Child Costume $39.95 This funky punk fairy is an awesome costume for any fairy lover! So put it on and rock out to punk music! This costume is great for any punk girl for Halloween, costume parties, and dress up! Costume Includes: goth gingham accent dress with skull bodice, choker, fishnet gloves, and wings.

Fairy Treasure $19.99 Fairy Treasure

A Fairy Tale $19.99 A Fairy Tale

Emerald Fairy $39.99 Emerald Fairy

Cinderella Musical Figurine – GIFTWARE $25 Celebrate the big day of your own little Cinderella with a figurine music box that is so special, she’ll think her Fairy Godmother whipped it up with her wand. Plays “A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes.” Resin base. 4 ?”H. Disney Showcase Collection.