[ARSCLIST] Fwd: A message from The Recording Academy President

[Karl Miller <karl.miller@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

FYI
   
  Karl

Member Services <memservices@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
  Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2007 20:51:41 1900
From: "Member Services" <memservices@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: A message from The Recording Academy President

Dear Recording Academy Member,

More than three years ago during my first speech in Washington as President 
of The Recording Academy, I called on Congress to enact a performance 
royalty for artists when their recordings are played on the radio. Last 
week, The Academy and a coalition of music groups launched a major campaign 
to turn this call to action into a reality. The musicFIRST campaign has 
begun.

As you may know, broadcasters in every other country in the developed world 
compensate both artists and songwriters when their recordings are played on 
the radio. Even in the U.S., digital broadcasters such as satellite, 
Internet, and cable stations pay royalties to artists and songwriters. Only 
U.S. over-the-air (terrestrial) broadcasters refuse to pay any compensation 
to the singers, musicians, featured artists and session players who make 
those recordings. It's time for this to change. And make no mistake, with 
our membership of both artists and songwriters, we will not allow the 
discussion to turn into a zero-sum game, pitting one against the other. 
Current songwriter royalties should and will be protected. A new 
performance royalty for artists must be in addition to that paid to writers.

The musicFIRST (Fairness in Radio Starting Today) Coalition seeks to end the 
free pass for corporate radio. I encourage you, as a Recording Academy 
member, to become involved in this campaign. Visit our coalition website: 
www.musicfirstcoalition.org for more information and to make your voice 
heard in Congress.

I will continue to keep you informed as we continue this fight for fairness 
for recording artists.

Kind regards,
Neil Portnow
President
The Recording Academy