Greg Sandoval has an interesting article on C|NET today regarding the ASCAP/BMI perception that iTunes isn’t paying its fair share. For things like its new streaming radio, and for sampling songs, as well as other issues. I like giving credit where it is due, so go visit Sandoval’s article for the in depth report. Here is my take on things
The streaming radio that is in iTunes 9 has nothing to do with iTunes 9. It is a proxy for the web streams coming from those who use ShoutCast and IceCast software/services. So, charging iTunes as well as the broadcaster should be considered double-dipping and not allowed. It would be like charging me for linking to C|NET even though I’m promoting C|NET by linking to it. (And C|NET, feel free to link to me.)
Sampling is the only way to get someone to buy a song. Relying on radio to promote a song is asinine. There isn’t enough coverage because some people don’t listen to the radio, and they get their fix from Internet streams and sampling from the iTunes store. 30 seconds has been the standard non-fee sampling size, leave it that way. Ultimately, I think this is about protectionist practices. I’m completely against pirating of music and movies, but charging for every single aspect of consumption will cost you, raise prices for others who continue consuming, and breed some serious bad blood with consumers all around. People are simply tired of paying for a lot of junk music. They won’t pay for a sample to hear it before buying it.
Good luck musicians, I don’t think you have complete control over your work, but to adroitly sum up the current perspective.. I give you this comment from C|NET’s forum:
CloudMatt says in response to a comment about the quality and skill of music and art creation… “accepted that I’m no Mozart or Rembrandt, neither are pop art celebs. I can’t paint a Mona Lisa but I can certainly paint a Jackson Pollock, couldn’t write a song as good as Dylan but my cat could have wrote Mmm Bop.
I agree with random. They write the song and record it, get paid, get it on the radio, get paid, p[er]form it in concert, get paid, get it on tv, get paid, sell the album/movie/sound track, get paid. that’s already a nice pile of change. I think they might have a right to get paid for the song promos, It’s kinda like radio play. For the download however heck no. You don’t have to pay extra for “Performance” rights to pop a DVD in your player you shouldn’t have to bear an extra cost just because you downloaded instead of getting hard copy. we keep letting crap like this happen eventually the riaa and the rest of the crook alphabet soup will start charging per view/listen of your own bought media.
Artists deserve their money I would never say they don’t, but the buck has to stop somewhere or the consumer will suffer in the end.”
So, back to my opinion. You have a consumer base of 330 million US people alone, and we know that Europe and everywhere else, follow quickly on the appreciation train and consume, consume, consume.
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