American Federation of Musicians (AFM)
American Federation of Television of Radio Artists (AFTRA)
The Recording Academy
Recording Artists' Coalition (RAC)

Media contacts:
AFM: Honore Stockley, 315-422-0900, ex.104
AFTRA: John Hinrichs, 323-634-8115
The Recording Academy: Ron Roecker, 310-392-3777
RAC: Rebecca Greenberg, 800-841-9113

SOUND RECORDING ARTISTS APPLAUD BI-PARTISAN EFFORT BY SENATORS TO PROTECT RIGHTS

WASHINGTON (April 25, 2006) The four leading organizations representing recording artists today joined together to support copyright reforms introduced by a bi-partisan group of senators that will protect compensation to artists and ensure a thriving environment for the legal digital music marketplace.

The American Federation of Musicians (AFM), the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), The Recording Academy, and the Recording Artists' Coalition (RAC) endorsed amendments to Section 114 of the Copyright Act introduced today by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Bill Frist (R-TN), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC).
The legislation would protect performers' income from sales and transmissions of their recordings by requiring content protection measures in digital transmissions and by providing platform parity in the licensing measures that apply to various types of digital music services. The legislation also requires that uncertainties in the licensing of sound recordings for use on the Internet be resolved.

The organizations praised the senators in a joint statement: "As representatives of recording artists and copyright owners, we deeply appreciate the tremendous effort and commitment that Senators Feinstein, Frist, and Graham have demonstrated in working to resolve these vital issues, and we look forward to assisting them in any way we can to find a solution."

The sound recording artist coalition groups intend to submit testimony supporting the bi-partisan amendments at a Senate Judiciary hearing on April 26, 2006.

AFM President Thomas F. Lee said, "Recording musicians will play their hearts out for music lovers, music partners, and the world at large, but transmissions of their recorded work must be decently compensated and reasonably protected for them to afford to perform. The AFM welcomes this legislation as a step toward those goals."

AFTRA National Executive Director Kim Roberts Hedgpeth said, "Radical developments in the transmission of digital music have created an urgent need for legislation to protect artists' property interests in their recordings and ensure they are fairly compensated regardless of the platform over which their music is played. AFTRA is encouraged by this move towards protecting the artists whose music fuels this industry."

The Recording Academy President Neil Portnow said, "New technologies for delivering music continue to present exciting opportunities as well as serious challenges for music creators. We applaud the work of Senators Feinstein, Frist and Graham who seek to ensure that recording professionals who create music will be protected and compensated as these new technologies enter the marketplace. We look forward to continuing our work with the Senators to assure passage of The PERFORM Act."

Recording Artists' Coalition National Director Rebecca Greenberg said, "Recording artists will greatly benefit from the new platform parity rules, which will create an even playing field between the webcasters and radio broadcasters. The Feinstein legislation would guarantee that artists receive a fair market price for their music , and would pave the way for the introduction of new and innovative webcasting and radio services and programs, which will in turn benefit artists."

###


About the organizations:

The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada is the largest organization in the world dedicated to representing the interests of professional musicians. Whether it is negotiating fair agreements, protecting ownership of recorded music, securing benefits such as health care and pension, or lobbying our legislators, the AFM is committed to raising industry standards and placing the professional musician in the foreground of the cultural landscape. www.afm.org

The American Federation of Television and Radtio Artists is a diverse, national union representing over 70,000 professional performers and broadcasters, 14,000 of whom are sound recording artists. Protecting and expanding the intellectual property rights of sound recording artists is a vital component of the AFTRA legislative agenda. AFTRA also negotiates with record labels to secure better health, retirement, and other benefits for recording artists. www.aftra.com

Established in 1957, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., also known as The Recording Academy ®, is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY® Awards, The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services. http://www.grammy.com

Recording Artists' Coalition is a non-profit, non-partisan coalition formed to represent the interests of recording artists with regard to legislative issues in which corporate and artists' issues conflict, and to address other public policy debates that come before the music industry.
http://www.recordingartistscoalition.com

I'm not a member of any of these ...
I am a member of boycottriaa.com and the NRA tho'

Stupid is as stupid does.

Even if the RIAA disappears tomorrow, I'll never buy another anything from any of the artists who are in the RAC. In fact, I'm going to print out the list and keep it handy so I can avoid ever even mentioning any of them again.

-= Disclaimer: This is just my opinion. =-
- As such I'm NOT suggesting any comment -
- following this preface is true. In fact -
- I live in a fairy-tale and nothing I -
- say should be taken seriously. -

George, you'd be doing us a public service by posting that list so we all who
visit know who the biggest shills/cowards are.

definitely!

I'm surprised that leflaw agrees so heartily, since Lester Chambers is on the list.

Bryan Adams
Christina Aguilera
Gregg Allmann
Beck
Bee Gees
Clint Black
Ruben Blades
Mary J. Blige
Michelle Branch
Kathleen Brennan
Jonatha Brooke
Jackson Browne
Lindsey Buckingham
Jimmy Buffet
Solomon Burke
Cake
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Lester Chambers
Eric Clapton
Chris Cornell
David Crosby
Crosby Stills & Nash
Sheryl Crow
Dave Matthews Band
Neil Diamond
Dixie Chicks
Howie Dorough
(Backstreet Boys)
Fred Durst
John Fogerty
Glenn Frey
Dean Friedman
Peter Gabriel
Godsmack
Estate of
Benny Goodman
Robert Goulet
Nanci Griffith
Hanson
Emmylou Harris
Sophie B Hawkins
Don Henley
Estate of Woody Herman
Hootie & the Blowfish
Bruce Hornsby
Janis Ian
Enrique Iglesias
Jimmie's Chicken Shack
Billy Joel
Elton John
Tom Jones
Wynonna Judd
Jurassic 5
Toby Keith
Kenna
Carole King
Denny Laine
Frankie Laine
Linkin Park
Lisa Loeb
Estate of
Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes
Jeff Lynne
Madonna
Aimee Mann
Tony Martin
matchbox twenty
Brian May
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
Tim McGraw
John Mellencamp
Joni Mitchell
Sam Moore
Alanis Morrisette
Randy Newman
Nickelback
Stevie Nicks
No Doubt
The Offspring
Ozomatli
Patti Page
Pearl Jam
Michael Penn
Tom Petty
Puddle of Mudd
Bonnie Raitt
REM
Kenny Rogers
Roy Rogers
Linda Ronstadt
Joe Sample
David Sanborn
Boz Scaggs
Timothy B. Schmit
Seal
Estate of
Tupac Shakur
Shea Seger
Curt Smith
Social Distortion
Ronnie Spector
Bruce Springsteen
Staind
Static-X
Sting
Stone Temple Pilots
Donna Summer
Matthew Sweet
Steven Tyler
Tom Waits
Joe Walsh
Roger Waters
Dar Williams
Trisha Yearwood
Dwight Yoakam
Jesse Colin Young

I wonder how many of these artists are members of RAC in name only. Do they all agree with every position taken by RAC, or even know that this position is being taken? I had mentioned to Mike that Clint Back recently launched a label with a former Sony head, giving artists complete control of their masters, creating more of a true partnership, rather than a dictatorship. It is Equity Music Group. Of course, I don't know Clint's view on DRM.

"requiring content protection measures in digital transmissions"

This would seem to criminalize DMusic. And any artist who hosts their own music on their own website. DRM will be required.

"I wonder how many of these artists are members of RAC in name only. Do they all agree with every position taken by RAC, or even know that this position is being taken?"

Hard to tell. Someone from Static-X wrote to me once to set me straight. Offered to answer all my questions. He didn't even know about the 15% deduction for promotional goods in his own damn contract. He went to check it out. Never heard from him again. Questions remain unanswered.

Like the RIAA, the RAC won't answer any criticisms. You can try writing to them if you like, but you're just wasting time.

All I know for sure is that they support making "unprotected" music illegal, effectively removing all independent artists from the playing field. Just watch. When the new "standard" DRM is adopted, it will be hardware based and the encryption process will be a secret. Regular people (like 99 percent of the artists on DMusic) will not be allowed to possess the secret. Otherwise, pirates could encode, too, and what good will that do?

Five or six years ago, a window of opportunity opened up for indies. In the name of fighting so-called piracy, this small list of 100 or so artists wants to slam it shut on your fingers.

"I wonder how many of these artists are members of RAC in name only."

I'll reconsider the ones that drop out of the club over this issue.

Good point, George. If I bought any of their music to start with, I might, as a fan, write the artists directly or post on their websites. I bet a lot of them haven't got the faintest idea what's involved here. Like most voters, they probably only heard the one part that pertains to them and their music.

Maybe it might be worth contacting some of these artists, or at least contact the webmaster to forward it to the artist. It does not appear that Bryan Adams' site is label owned, but has more to do with his fan club and management. When I do a Whois lookup, the registered names are Adams Communications and Bryan Adams Fan Club. When you go do his official site, there is a Bootlegography, of which I am sure Universal Music does not approve. I do not see any disclaimer denouncing the practice. It basically says, here is a list and if you want to add to it, send us an e-mail.

I also know that Janis Ian has been critial of the RIAA, and would probably want to helping in blocking something like this. I believe that Janis is pretty accessible from her site.

I've written to Janis, several times. She actually wrote back a few times, too. Hell, I've worked for some of the people on this list.

I see a press release saying the RAC wants DRM. This is the RAC.

-= Disclaimer:This is just my opinion. =-
- As such I'm NOT suggesting any comment following -
- this preface is true. In fact I live in a fairy-tale -
- and nothing I say should be taken seriously. -

""I wonder how many of these artists are members of RAC in name only."

If they are members of an organization .. without knowing exactly what the organizations goals and policies are, they deserve boycotting even more for the simple fact that they are ...
sorry, dumbfucks.
That's the nicest way I can put it.
The "oh gee wiz I had no idea what they
were doing" excuse no longer holds water.
Stupid enough to be led by the nose ??
Enjoy the kick in the pants.
The ONLY way I can see cutting them a bit of slack is if they are listed as members without their knowledge or consent.

"Some people never learn..."

Those who don't care to learn a lesson when they have ample opportunity
are known as fools.