In Pursuit of Whimsy

23 Sep 2008
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Major Music Industry Groups Announce Breakthrough Agreement

kingofspills:

katieschenk:

“Limited download and interactive streaming services will generally pay a mechanical royalty of 10.5 percent of revenue, less any amounts owed for performance royalties. In certain instances, royalty-free promotional streaming is allowed. Outside the scope of the draft regulations, the parties confirmed that non-interactive, audio-only streaming services do not require reproduction or distribution licenses from copyright owners.

The agreement does not address royalty rates for physical product or permanent music downloads. The Copyright Royalty Judges are expected to issue a ruling on those rates on or before October 2.”

Very interesting. Very, very interesting. I’d like to see the actual breakdowns of the 10.5% royalty rate and how much the artists are getting, and if it’s based on current contracts for physical sales or if it’ll have to be renegotiated. It seems like splitting it up based physical sales revenue rates would require a complex mathematical system (that a third grader could do) that might be over the industry’s head.

Also, it doesn’t say a word about figuring out performance royalties, which is what the Artists should be MOST concerned about (though admittedly if they’re getting a chunk of that 10.5% mechanical royalty, it’s a good start).

Clarification: the 10.5% is for mechanical rights only, which means ALL goes to publishers. These agreements had nothing to do with artists’ royalties or performance royalties, that I am aware of. (Performance rates are already set for streaming.)

This is still shitty and akin to robbing the artist, but it’s much worse in other places. I just hope that other countries (I’m looking in your direction, Philippines!) will catch up and start treating their homegrown talents fairly.

This is a small step, but a step nonetheless. The point is, there are people here in the US who are trying to change the system so that artists benefit from their work, as opposed to making their greedy and faceless sponsors earn more cash than they know what to do with. I know I’m simplifying a very complex situation, but I’d like to see artists receive their due is all. If people in the US are dissatisfied, imagine how much worse it is and how much more the fat cats get away with in the industry back home.

Kailan kaya mag-e-evolve ang industry sa Pilipinas? Tangina ang naive ko naman, asa pa ko.