RIAA Strongarm Tactics
April 18, 2006
Satellite Standard Group (SSG) has been keeping our eyes out for anything involving the Recording Industry Association of America, better known as the RIAA. The reason is simple. The current deal between the RIAA and satellite radio providers Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio expires quite soon.
At this point there is not much known about where talks between the involved parties. Should an agreement fail to be reached, the issue will go to arbitration, where the rates will be set.
Mel Karmazin, CEO of Sirius Satellite Radio spoke out regarding the issue at the Global Automotive Conferece last week. He remarked, "...I told them that if they really would like to get a big increase in what they’re currently getting, what they should do for us is they ought to take music off every place else in radio. So if, in fact, they were to take music off of terrestrial radio and the only way you’d be able to hear music would be by listening to satellite radio, then I think we could pay them a significant increase over what they’re making, what they’re currently getting."
Today, AdAge wrote a piece regarding how the RIAA has strongarmed college students with lawsuits regarding music downloading practices. The piece tells the story of one M.I.T. student, Cassi Hunt, who has decided to strike back.
What will happen with the satellite radio negotiations with the RIAA? That is unknown, but we do have confidence in Mel Karmazin to strike the best possible deal.
You can read the whole AdAge article
here.
This link to this write up is:
http://tinyurl.com/f2nga4/18/2006 09:52:00 PM
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