ASCAP Asks FCC To Block Pandora From Buying Radio Station, Because ASCAP Doesn't Like Pandora

from the because-reasons dept

We'd already talked about how the legacy players in the recording industry had lashed out at Pandora for buying a small radio station. As we noted, Pandora was doing this to more or less highlight the absolute hypocrisy (and possible illegality) of ASCAP who offers cheaper streaming rates for terrestrial radio stations to stream their programming online. Since this stuff gets a bit confusing, as a reminder, ASCAP (along with others like BMI and SESAC) collect and distribute money for composers and publishers, not for musicians playing the music (though, obviously, sometimes the composers also play). ASCAP has a variety of different rates that it charges for things, and Pandora noted that its online competitors, such as iHeartRadio -- which is owned by ClearChannel, the largest owners of terrestrial radio stations in the US -- pay a lower rate for online streaming.

ASCAP has been offering iHeartRadio and other terrestrial stations that also do streaming cheaper licenses for their streaming than it offers to Pandora. Pandora has argued that this violates the antitrust agreement that the DOJ made ASCAP agree to, after it was discovered that ASCAP was engaged in a variety of anti-competitive practices to restrict the market.

The hysteria over this from some less-than-well-informed folks in the music industry has really been quite incredible. Contrary to some claims that we've seen, Pandora is not trying to get a special deal. Nor is it trying to say that it doesn't have to pay performer rights (which are a whole different issue). All it's really doing is highlighting how ASCAP is discriminating against online-only streaming services by charging them different rates than online streaming services that happened to be owned by terrestrial radio stations.

The latest, however, is that ASCAP is now asking the FCC to block the purchase, mainly because ASCAP doesn't like it.
Pandora is buying KXMZ for one reason – to argue that it is entitled to pay lower music performance royalties to composers, songwriters and lyricists for its billions of online-only internet music streams.
Actually, it seems like Pandora is buying KXMZ to demonstrate that ASCAP has discriminatory and unfair pricing practices in how it offers its licenses. It's not that Pandora is claiming that it alone is magically entitled to lower royalties -- it's pointing out that everyone else gets lower royalties and Pandora is wondering why it is singled out for higher royalties.

Honestly, that's about the extent of ASCAP's argument. Beyond that, it focuses on some procedural issues about the paperwork that Pandora filled out -- ASCAP claims they didn't follow all the rules. But, clearly, ASCAP doesn't go around making sure that everyone buying radio stations has dotted their i's and crossed their t's. ASCAP is just upset that Pandora is suddenly calling attention to ASCAP's discriminatory online streaming rates. Even on the technicalities ASCAP is being particularly ridiculous. For example, it claims that Pandora did not properly disclose its ownership, because it claims that Pandora improperly referred to Wellington Management Company as "an investment adviser" in the past, but for this document, refers to it as "an investment company." That's the sort of minutiae ASCAP is pulling out to try to block this.

The whole thing is petty in the extreme. ASCAP clearly has discriminatory pricing practices against online-only streaming companies -- and is embarrassed by Pandora making this point very clearly by purchasing this tiny radio station. Is it a move to "game" the system? Yes, it is but a move necessitated by ASCAP's discriminatory pricing. If ASCAP is so upset about this, perhaps it shouldn't have priced internet streaming differently depending on whether or not you own a radio station.
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Filed Under: composers, fcc, rates, songwriters, streaming
Companies: ascap, pandora


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  • icon
    That One Guy (profile), 29 Jul 2013 @ 6:20pm

    Easy enough to explain:

    With offline radios that just happen to stream their music online as well, the influence, both monetary or otherwise the labels hold means the big labels are able to decide what and who is and is not played, so both the offline and the online services benefit the labels.

    A purely online service like Pandora on the other hand, allows the listeners to choose what they want to hear, and allows those not shackled to the labels to get equal air-time. Is it any wonder then they want to get rid of Pandora, given that?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      The Real Michael, 30 Jul 2013 @ 4:24am

      Re: Easy enough to explain:

      Not only that, Pandora features a wealth of independent music as well and allows their userbase to determine what they want to hear, i.e. not just major label artists. The latter don't get to dominate the service like they do most every other. This most certainly is the root cause for all the antagonism towards Pandora.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        That One Guy (profile), 30 Jul 2013 @ 9:32am

        Re: Re: Easy enough to explain:

        Yup, as another poster commented a while back, Pandora puts indie musicians on equal footing with label musicians, and the labels absolutely cannot stand having equal competition like that, hence their desire to crush or control Pandora.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        jupiterkansas (profile), 30 Jul 2013 @ 9:38am

        Re: Re: Easy enough to explain:

        Any music service that doesn't cater to the RIAA and promote RIAA artists needs to go out of business. Otherwise the RIAA can't play gatekeeper to the industry.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 30 Jul 2013 @ 10:48am

      Re: Easy enough to explain:

      Basically they are desperately defending a dark-grey area practice by using procedural tricks. Wouldn't you? Nevermind that they are spewing gibberish and ideally should represent all composers and publishers. They are defending jobs and old wealth against innovation and redistribution. Is that so wrong?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    M. Alan Thomas II (profile), 29 Jul 2013 @ 7:23pm

    "[...] and Pandora noted that its online competitors, such as iHeartRadio -- which is owned by ClearChannel, the largest owners of terrestrial radio stations in the US."

    Umm. I feel like I'm missing a verb in here. This is a very long noun phrase with lots of nested parentheticals.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Liz (profile), 29 Jul 2013 @ 9:15pm

      Re:

      I noticed that too. It reads like half of a sentence. Cutting out the extra info to break the sentence down we get this:

      ASCAP has a variety of different rates that it charges for things, and Pandora noted that its online competitors, such as iHeartRadio -- which is owned by ClearChannel, the largest owners of terrestrial radio stations in the US.

      Pandora noted that its online competitors, such as iHeartRadio...what?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Mike Masnick (profile), 29 Jul 2013 @ 11:48pm

      Re:

      Bah, fixed... What's funny is that as I wrote that sentence I said to myself to go back and make sure it worked after, and then I never did.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    xenomancer (profile), 29 Jul 2013 @ 7:26pm

    AS(S)CAP

    It had to be said.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 29 Jul 2013 @ 9:58pm

      Re: AS(S)CAP

      This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it.

      Define blocked, thanks.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 30 Jul 2013 @ 12:23am

        Re: Re: AS(S)CAP

        The verb was flagged not blocked, did you ever learn to read?

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 29 Jul 2013 @ 7:39pm

    ASCAP Asks FCC To Block Pandora From Buying Radio Station, Because ASCAP Doesn't Like Pandora

    ASCAP Asks FCC To Block Pandora From Buying Radio Station, Because ASCAP Doesn't Like Pandora

    Masnick asks users to BLOCK TD comments from TechDirt, because Masnick DOESN'T LIKE dissenting comments.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      S. T. Stone, 29 Jul 2013 @ 8:03pm

      Re: ASCAP Asks FCC To Block Pandora From Buying Radio Station, Because ASCAP Doesn't Like Pandora

      Bad commenters have their comments blocked from Techdirt because other commenters don’t like commenters who add no value to the article or the discussion of said article.

      As I’ve said before: Techdirt admins have no obligation to allow your comments to appear on Techdirt, and you have no legal recourse with which to force it to happen. The report system/comment blocking does not count as censorship or an infringement upon your Constitutionally-guaranteed right to self-expression.

      Oh, and dissenting ideas show up here all the time; on the other hand, Techdirt commenters and admins have little patience for ad hominem attacks and comments mean only to troll the comments and lower the level of discourse.

      So, do you have an actual comment about the story above, or did you come here to whine about a self-fulfilling prophecy?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Anonymous Howard (profile), 30 Jul 2013 @ 12:55am

        Re: Re: ASCAP Asks FCC To Block Pandora From Buying Radio Station, Because ASCAP Doesn't Like Pandora

        How many times do you guys want to fall for this "TD censorship bawk bawk" shit, ffs?
        Report and move on, nothing new to discuss for the hundredth time..

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          S. T. Stone, 30 Jul 2013 @ 10:15am

          Re: Re: Re: ASCAP Asks FCC To Block Pandora From Buying Radio Station, Because ASCAP Doesn't Like Pandora

          Eh, I don’t mind replying to it. It helps me keeps my arguments on the subject straight and gives me practice in replying to trolls without going batshit on them. :)

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • icon
            Anonymous Howard (profile), 31 Jul 2013 @ 1:07am

            Re: Re: Re: Re: ASCAP Asks FCC To Block Pandora From Buying Radio Station, Because ASCAP Doesn't Like Pandora

            You're practicing mud wrestling against a pig. You can beat him, but in the end, you get muddy, and the pig enjoys it.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 29 Jul 2013 @ 8:17pm

      Re: ASCAP Asks FCC To Block Pandora From Buying Radio Station, Because ASCAP Doesn't Like Pandora

      Really? This is what you come up with? It's just sad.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 29 Jul 2013 @ 8:19pm

      Re: ASCAP Asks FCC To Block Pandora From Buying Radio Station, Because ASCAP Doesn't Like Pandora

      Guess what, darryl?

      Your very own government is asking its citizens to pay less for Adobe, because even it can tell that Adobe's pricing plans are bullshit and country-based discriminatory.

      That's right.

      You are living in a DEN of THIEVES AND PIRATES.

      Makes your solar panel dick sad doesn't it?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        gnudist, 30 Jul 2013 @ 2:06am

        Re: Re: ASCAP Asks FCC To Block Pandora From Buying Radio Station, Because ASCAP Doesn't Like Pandora

        Solar panel dick? Well, that explains morning wood...

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 29 Jul 2013 @ 8:21pm

      Re: ASCAP Asks FCC To Block Pandora From Buying Radio Station, Because ASCAP Doesn't Like Pandora

      Broadcasting and cableco monopolists ask the government to wrongfully grant them monopolies because they don't like dissenting and competing media. At least you are allowed to come here and comment. Abolish government established broadcasting and cableco monopolists for private and commercial use.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 29 Jul 2013 @ 8:22pm

        Re: Re: ASCAP Asks FCC To Block Pandora From Buying Radio Station, Because ASCAP Doesn't Like Pandora

        monopolies *

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 29 Jul 2013 @ 8:35pm

        Re: Re: ASCAP Asks FCC To Block Pandora From Buying Radio Station, Because ASCAP Doesn't Like Pandora

        govt established broadcasting and cableco monopolies *

        Furthermore, you are allowed to start your own blog and if people like your blog they will follow. So why don't you do it? Why do you come here? Oh, because no one would listen to your nonsense. The media cartels insist on having the government grant them monopolies because they know that what they deliver is pure propaganda and no one would listen to it in the face of competition.

        In fact, government established broadcasting and cableco monopolies are an abrogation of free speech. The government is restricting my free speech and its distribution based on the discretion of a self interested private monopoly holder. This is the worst possible free speech abrogation the government can impose because such restrictions are directly directed to serve the interests of a private party at the discretion of said private party. This is arguably what the founding fathers sought to prevent. Look at Russia where the govt-industrial complex work hand in hand and the govt protects industry. Historically governments have been well known to grant monopoly power and restrict free speech based on the interests of private merchants and various monopolists and that's why the founding fathers were very skeptical of patents and sought to limit their user.

        A private party is allowed to determine what speech is distributed and what speech isn't and it uses the government to enforce its decisions. That's arguably worse than having the government restrict free speech for its interests.

        Thanks to these media cartels copy'right' law now lasts 95+ years and has been retroactively extended to the point that nothing ever enters the public domain anymore. The government grants taxi-cab monopolies causing taxicab prices to be way overinflated. The media has either kept us ignorant or have fed us propaganda and lies to allow for such bad laws to have been passed. The mainstream media cartels have truly been a disservice to us all and their government established monopoly power must be relinquished.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 29 Jul 2013 @ 8:36pm

          Re: Re: Re: ASCAP Asks FCC To Block Pandora From Buying Radio Station, Because ASCAP Doesn't Like Pandora

          and the media cartels should be ashamed of themselves for abusing their monopoly power in their self interests at the expense of the public. But of course they aren't, these heartless criminals have no moral standards whatsoever.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 29 Jul 2013 @ 8:38pm

          Re: Re: Re: ASCAP Asks FCC To Block Pandora From Buying Radio Station, Because ASCAP Doesn't Like Pandora

          has *

          link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 29 Jul 2013 @ 8:43pm

      Re: ASCAP Asks FCC To Block Pandora From Buying Radio Station, Because ASCAP Doesn't Like Pandora

      and are you seriously siding with ASCAP, the MPAA, and the RIAA? What kinda monster would side with these heartless thugs. These people have destroyed our laws, they have destroyed our culture, they have scammed and extorted both the public and artists and manipulated the laws to give them monopoly power so that they can continue their extortion racket all for their personal gain. These criminals should be in jail and all the bought politicians that have passed laws in their favor should be in jail with them. Corrupt politicians that pass selfish laws (ie: 95+ year copy protection lengths) are arguably the worst criminals because their laws affect millions and they should receive the worst punishments.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        cpt kangarooski, 30 Jul 2013 @ 2:48am

        Re: Re: ASCAP Asks FCC To Block Pandora From Buying Radio Station, Because ASCAP Doesn't Like Pandora

        What kinda monster would side with these heartless thugs.

        Hm, maybe some sort of cross between a vampire and a fish-man. A lamprey-man, maybe, or perhaps just a fish-man that was made into a vampire, like if it was the Dracula from the Black Lagoon or something.

        That's my guess, anyway. What were you thinking of?

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Alex, 30 Jul 2013 @ 10:56am

        Re: Re: ASCAP Asks FCC To Block Pandora From Buying Radio Station, Because ASCAP Doesn't Like Pandora

        Who would side with them? Songwriters. ASCAP collects money for them, albeit the radio play portion is often a pittance compared to the cut physical media gets (10-15% off the top). They more care about bullying venues to pay their performance tax. In my experience, radio doesn't pay musicians at all (it is considered free advertising for your band), so Pandora paying artists is a good thing, even if it isn't much.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
    identicon
    out_of_the_blue, 29 Jul 2013 @ 8:05pm

    This is again Mike merely favoring NEW gatekeepers.

    First a howler: "technicality's" when you mean the plural "technicalities". Sheesh. Even Ivy League must be party schools now.

    Anyhoo, it's been established that Pandora is nothing but new gatekeepers getting filthy rich while paying artists even less of pittance than the old gang. Of course grifters want to get lower rates. This is just a cynical stunt to pretend that Pandora can't pay the rates demanded. -- And as for the rates difference, well, I'd bet ASCAP charges differently (more) for television use than radio, based on obvious audience numbers.

    This is typical Masnicking: wild exaggermeration (look at all his pejoratives and adjectives!) of a monetary dispute, of course with Mike favoring his Internet Grifter pals over actual artists.


    Take a loopy tour of Techdirt.com! You always end up same place!
    http://techdirt.com/
    Where fanboys assert that multi-billion industries are doing it all wrong!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      S. T. Stone, 29 Jul 2013 @ 8:17pm

      Re: This is again Mike merely favoring NEW gatekeepers.

      Pandora is nothing but new gatekeepers getting filthy rich while paying artists even less of pittance than the old gang

      Pandora pays artists lower royalty rates because the RIAA and its music industry brethren rigged the system against Pandora, Spotify, and other Internet radio providers/broadcasters.

      Then again, at least Pandora pays artists.

      Of course grifters want to get lower rates.

      I wouldn't refer to Pandora as ‘grifters’ if Pandora actually pays artists the royalties they deserve (and by all accounts, Pandora does).

      Pandora wants a level playing field where Internet radio providers pay the same rates as terrestrial radio providers. What about that makes Pandora ‘evil’?

      This is just a cynical stunt to pretend that Pandora can't pay the rates demanded.

      What makes it a stunt? What information do you have on Pandora’s financial situation that we apparently don’t? How do you expect us to believe a claim such as yours without proof?

      And as for the rates difference, well, I'd bet ASCAP charges differently (more) for television use than radio, based on obvious audience numbers.

      Television networks can afford the higher rates given the larger number of viewers and the higher amount of income, and they also generally own the rights to (at least) first-run content aired on said networks.

      Internet radio providers don’t have ways of monetizing the licensed content it airs (whereas TV networks can sell DVDs and other licensed physical merchandise).

      It makes no sense to charge Internet radio providers a higher licensing rate than terrestrial radio providers (which also can’t monetize the licensed content they air).

      This is typical Masnicking

      And that’s an ad hominem.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 29 Jul 2013 @ 8:17pm

      Re: This is again Mike merely favoring NEW gatekeepers.

      No.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      JMT (profile), 29 Jul 2013 @ 8:33pm

      Re: This is again Mike merely favoring NEW gatekeepers.

      "First a howler: "technicality's" when you mean the plural "technicalities"."

      If that's all it takes to make you howl, you must have a very low excitement threshold. Your life must be a riot. And I wouldn't be criticising anyone else's spelling and grammar; yours is often shocking.

      "Anyhoo, it's been established that Pandora is nothing but new gatekeepers getting filthy rich while paying artists even less of pittance than the old gang."

      No, this has been claimed by you. It's been established by nobody.

      "Of course grifters want to get lower rates."

      I don't think anyone wanting the same rates as comparable services can be called a grifter (a word you truly don’t know the meaning of).

      "This is just a cynical stunt to pretend that Pandora can't pay the rates demanded."

      Well at their current rates they're running at a loss. So yes, they obviously can't pay the rates demanded forever. Not rocket science.

      "And as for the rates difference, well, I'd bet ASCAP charges differently (more) for television use than radio, based on obvious audience numbers."

      WTF has television got to do with this discussion?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 29 Jul 2013 @ 8:57pm

        Re: Re: This is again Mike merely favoring NEW gatekeepers.

        Same reason as why Google has got to do with every discussion had with this complete and thorough buffoon.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
      identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 29 Jul 2013 @ 11:48pm

      Re: This is again Mike merely favoring NEW gatekeepers.

      out_of_the_blue_douchnozzle has no idea what Pandora even is. out_of_the_blue_douchnozzle thinks that it is a box that should never be opened.

      this is typical out_of_the_blue_douchnozzle behaviour. out_of_the_blue_douchnozzle has to jump to every corporations defence regardless of how ammoral\ corrupt they are.

      out_of_the_blue_douchnozzle thinks that every time a corporation does something illegal or immoral it is just an anomaly. Billions of anomalies.

      out_of_the_blue_douchnozzle is a paranoid nutjob who thinks that Google is hiding under her bed

      out_of_the_blue_douchnozzle is the biggest hypocrite on the internet when it comes to pointing out that people have made a spelling mistake when she cannot spell correctly or use correct grammar.

      out_of_the_blue_douchnozzle does not know the difference between a gatekeeper and an enabler.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Rikuo (profile), 30 Jul 2013 @ 3:54am

        Re: Re: This is again Mike merely favoring NEW gatekeepers.

        Why was this hidden?

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          Josh in CharlotteNC (profile), 30 Jul 2013 @ 4:37am

          Re: Re: Re: This is again Mike merely favoring NEW gatekeepers.

          It obviously is a view that Techdirt admins don't want to debate. /s

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 30 Jul 2013 @ 6:57am

            Re: Re: Re: Re: This is again Mike merely favoring NEW gatekeepers.

            And according to darryl must obviously be true.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          That One Guy (profile), 30 Jul 2013 @ 9:49am

          Re: Re: Re: This is again Mike merely favoring NEW gatekeepers.

          Probably because it's filled with name calling and personal attacks. Doesn't matter who it's aimed at, that kind of post deserves being reported.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 30 Jul 2013 @ 12:58pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re: This is again Mike merely favoring NEW gatekeepers.

            no it doesn't douchnozzle

            link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 30 Jul 2013 @ 12:28am

      Re: This is again Mike merely favoring NEW gatekeepers.

      What I find amusing is that ootb is saying rich people are evil in another article. Pandora hasn't made much money since it has started. The old gatekeepers are doing everything in their power not to pay artist so they can keep it all. He is then supporting the rich people/gatekeepers on this article but against it in another. And not only that but some of the worst kind of rich people. Hypocrisy +10.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 29 Jul 2013 @ 8:57pm

    out_of_the_blue, stop trying to make "Masnicking" happen! It's not going to happen!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Anonymous Coward, 29 Jul 2013 @ 9:10pm

    SUPER DOJ

    This sounds like a job for SUPER AGENCY...DOJ. Faster than a speeding slug. Stronger than the US Consitution. Able to leap tall conundrums, with the ability to audit Hollywood and Collection Agencies in thier sleep. Owning a sense of fairness that confabulates organized crime, mere citizens, the State Departments of 209 of the 212 countries in the world, and the Taliban. They fly to indict the inocent. They strive to achieve a complete dexterity of banality. They speed to overcome any sense of fairness, comportment or credulity. There they go SUPER DOJ!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Ninja (profile), 30 Jul 2013 @ 4:20am

    And yet nobody is punishing ASCAP for what is clearly an abuse of their market position. But Pandora buying a no-name radio station somewhat is a big deal eh?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Shon Gale, 30 Jul 2013 @ 5:37am

    Greedy! Greedy! And I never received a dime. Lot's of artists I know get their songs played on terrestrial radio and never receive a penny from ASCAP or BMI. They are ripoffs as far a I am concerned. They steal from the artists. Let's start an online service that streams music from only artists who have no ASCAP affiliations.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      The Real Michael, 30 Jul 2013 @ 7:55am

      Re:

      Why do you think the major labels permeate the airwaves with their big-names? To ensure that they receive the lion's share of royalties. It goes without saying that if they're in a position to determine who succeeds and who doesn't in the marketplace, they're going to ensure their own success without exception.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 30 Jul 2013 @ 8:54pm

      Re:

      Shon - you may not know that when you hear a song there are actually two copyrights involved. One is owned by the songwriter who wrote the song and the other by the label/artist which made the sound recording. Both copyrights are treated differently under the law. Songwriters get paid when their songs are played over AM/FM radio, artists are not. Webcasters are required to pay both songwriters and artists. ASCAP collects royalties on behalf of songwriters and publishers, not artists. So your proposal doesn't actually solve anything. A change to the law is required for artists to receive compensation.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Reality Check, 30 Jul 2013 @ 6:40am

    Pandora was doing this to ....

    Anyone else just a little bit boggled that a company would just buy a radio station to prove a point?

    Um. Yeah. Just to prove what I'm saying [b]I'll buy a freaking radio station![/b] Maybe then you'll understand.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 30 Jul 2013 @ 7:54am

      Re: Pandora was doing this to ....

      I agree that it's ridiculous they had to go to such lengths just to prove a point. It demonstrates how petty, one sided, and ridiculous our laws are.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Hephaestus (profile), 30 Jul 2013 @ 9:08am

      Re: Pandora was doing this to ....

      I think they are paying $600 k for the station. Which will pay for itself in short order.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    phils, 30 Jul 2013 @ 1:45pm

    Maybe KXMZ should buy Pandora

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    andres, 30 Jul 2013 @ 3:20pm

    coment

    fuck you iheartradio for discrimination and enable hear stations outside USA

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    tywebb (profile), 30 Jul 2013 @ 7:56pm

    Another shoddy Masnick piece that doesn't tell the whole story. ASCAP is governed by a department of justice consent decree which dictates that they license anyone who asks for one. If they can't agree on a rate, a federal court decides what the rate will be. In other words ASCAP actually has very little leverage when it comes to negotiating rates. Broadcasters who also offer streams receive a break on their streams because almost all of their royalties are paid for their use of music over the air. Their streams are incidental to their overall business. Pandora, which is currently a 100% streaming service is trying to say that if they own a single radio station that serves a few hundred individuals in bum fuck that they should receive the same preferred rate. The real story is Pandora going to court, to Congress, and now buying a radio station to try to screw songwriters (the guys who don't tour or sell T-shirts) out of royalties instead of trying to figure out a way to raise their revenue through ads or subscriptions. Funny what incumbents like Pandora will do to preserve their business model. Admittedly, Pandora does have a point that their competitors are screwing songwriters even worse and that's not fair. But the answer is to level the playing field by doing away with below-market, government imposed rates for broadcasters, not allowing Pandora to thrust their dick further up the ass of the songwriting community's collective bunghole.

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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