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[zevele1]

Here is a link to the Janis Ian weebsite with a long but very good article from her about the riaa mascarade

http://www.janisian.com/article-internet_debacle

Listening to: 'Alabama Bound / Boll Weevil' from 'Lookin' For A Home' by 'Odetta' on Media Jukebox

[Callithumpian]

It's good to get an artist's perspective.  Especially when it's a well-repected singer, song-writer, performer of such long standing.
This is a great article.
(which means only that I agree with her)

[sarah]

So what is the solution?
The elements are clear and simple.

First element: money directly to the artist.  The artist controls to whom he/she then hands the money to. Possession has always been the yeoman part of the law.  Call it the right to first possession.  A lot of good would come from merely making it illegal for the first payee to be anyone but the artist.

Second element measure what artists are being listened to.
If we can sample and predict elections, and the share of TV or radio audiences, certainly we can sample and measure the relative listenings of artists.  Use paid Nelson-like-ratings samplings, if necessary.

Third element: distribute the money proportionaltely to each artist.
What money?  That is easy.  After all 'money' is just a number in an account.  Dollars, Euros, Globals, whatever. Put the appropriate number in the global account.  Declare it legal tender. Distribute it proportionately, directly to the artist. By computer, using software, with e-cash.  Who writes the software?  JRiver of course.  A new BuyButton.  The artist registers his account, clicks on the BuyButton and the JRiver system appropriately steers the e-cash.  JRiver can become one of many clearing houses, all interconnected.

[sammy]

U.S. Congressman Rick Boucher, to the rescue.  He is introducing a bill that includes:

Require direct payment to artists: Current law says royalty payments are to be shared among the recording companies and performing artists. "Our bill requires that these payments instead be made directly to the artists or to a collective organization representing the artists."

Require "non-discrimination" in the licensing of music inventories by major labels in the music industry.

Boucher said the idea is if a record label licenses a wholly-owned subsidiary it created to deliver online music, it needs to give a comparable license to a competitor. "I think it's essential that we engender a positive competition in the delivery of music on the Internet and avoid a major duopoloy" among major record labels that together control about 80 percent of existing music libraries.

Source: http://www.atnewyork.com/news/article.php/1381471