BookPeople
'Chronicle' Does a Disservice by Parroting Blatant Lies
RECEIVED Fri., July 6, 2007
Dear Editor,
In his story "Paying the Piper Online" [News, July 6] Kevin Brass repeats a blatantly false Recording Industry Association of America talking point which states webcasters are making money "without paying musicians." Internet radio pays royalties. Of that there is no question. As Mr. Brass correctly notes in the rest of his article, Internet radio is resisting a hike in one particular royalty rate, a fee that is not charged to terrestrial radio. This rate hike, requested by the RIAA (which got more than hoped for from the Copyright Royalty Board "negotiations"), will kill off all independent Internet radio. The Chronicle does a disservice to its readers by parroting without analysis the blatant lies of a failing, terrified, outmoded industry.
In his story "Paying the Piper Online" [News, July 6] Kevin Brass repeats a blatantly false Recording Industry Association of America talking point which states webcasters are making money "without paying musicians." Internet radio pays royalties. Of that there is no question. As Mr. Brass correctly notes in the rest of his article, Internet radio is resisting a hike in one particular royalty rate, a fee that is not charged to terrestrial radio. This rate hike, requested by the RIAA (which got more than hoped for from the Copyright Royalty Board "negotiations"), will kill off all independent Internet radio. The Chronicle does a disservice to its readers by parroting without analysis the blatant lies of a failing, terrified, outmoded industry.
Ted Leibowitz
San Francisco, Calif.
San Francisco, Calif.
[Kevin Brass responds: As Ted Leibowitz himself notes, the rest of the article provided analysis and information about the dispute and the RIAA's claims.]
