The editorial below was written by consultant Harry Lyles…
Like the rest of the radio industry, I cheered the recent news that the movement in Congress to impose a performance fee on music airplay is almost dead. A majority of the House and a growing number of Senators have signed the Local Radio Freedom Act, a resolution that denounces any performance fee, tax or other royalty charge on music airplay.
However, over the last few weeks, I have read with great interest (and at times real confusion) the reports and blogs about the controversy generated by House Resolution 848 – the so-called Performance Rights Act ““ the measure that would impose performance fees. The result is an incredible amount of misinformation regarding black radio and black music performers.
To begin with, some radio execs – who should be more responsible – are making accusations that are inflammatory. At the epicenter of these charges is a mess created by Cathy Hughes, CEO of Radio One.
Great Job Harry… Thank You…Peace
am glad somebody has the gust to say something about all that crying over the air waves, thank you Harry i just beleive it was a better way to do that
Right on about Cathy Hughes but don’t agree that artists shouldn’t get paid for radio play. That’s like saying radio should get to broadcast NFL games for free because they promote games. Just doesn’t work — Support HR 848.
Look I not sure where you get your info from, you must have been under a rock. for there are onaly a few radio station owners. and they dont have the capital to do what other stations owned by whites, & otherwise. Now having said that, the other person was right the NFL gets is on radio, & just to tell you a little about what radio is going through for you dont have a clue, jobs are being lost at a rate never seean before. When you say let them fall where they size up. is that what happen with all these ball outs get real man. wow you people get in a little power and forget what is really going on out here. Do you see any FCC people taking it to the streets no they dont care about radio, Do you see any people of color as a commishner of the FCC no so when it come to our jobs music life yea they dont care. do some thing about that and than I will say job well done.
Now as for Cathy, yea dont have a clue on how to program good music in most of there markets , and higher the wrong people, so thats their problem.
I only have one point to make. Beyonce’s new rendition of “At Last” is the example. Etta James made “At Last” popular. The song was actually released years earlier by Glenn Miller. Not many people remember that. Do you know why? Because Glenn Miller, while being a very important part of music history, was not powerful enough for his version to make it to current music playlists or syncs.
Even more important is who wrote the song. Does anyone know? Mack Gordon and Harry Warren wrote the song. How many people know or even care about that? Probably not many. A better question would be…How many people tune in to their local radio station to hear Mack and Harry’s song? I guarantee that their are no people who would answer yes to that.
How many people tune in to hear Beyonce or Etta sing it, though?
ALL OF THEM!!!
Radio makes all of it’s money from advertisements. Advertisers pay a premium based on how many listeners a station has. Listeners don’t give a damn who wrote the song. They tune in because Beyonce sings it.
Therefore, radio makes money because of the star power of Beyonce. Not because Mack and Harry are great song writer’s. However, the writer’s are the only ones who make a penny off of radio airplay.
Harry references that there are many radio stations suffering. I agree, but I would like to post the amounts that stations would have to pay with the passing of this bill. As you will see, most of these suffering stations would not go under for paying their fees.
Stations with annual gross revenues of less than $100,000 would pay $500 each year. Those with gross revenues between $100,000 and $500,000 would pay $2,500. Those between $500,000 and $1.25 million would pay a royalty fee of $5,000 per year.
The fees wouldn’t start for three years if a station’s revenues are less than $5 million annually, and for 1 year for others.
I think that we all need to do a little more research and stop relying on third parties to make up our minds for us.
In my opinion, Radio needs to cut the check and stop complaining.
Very enlightening! Thank you Mr. Lyles sir.