Some 125 major league artists have co-signed an open letter opposing Pandora’s plan to cut artists’ pay when music is played over Internet radio in the US.
Acts including Rihanna, Katy Perry, Don Henley, Journey, Brian Wilson, Missy Elliot and Billy Joel ask why Pandora is pushing Congress to slash musicians’ pay.
The online radio station is attempting to alter the way statutory webcasting rates are set in the US, to ultimately reduce the percentage it has to pay out to artists via SoundExchange.
Internet radio companies such as Pandora are pushing Congress to pass the Internet Radio Fairness Act, which could slash by 85 percent royalties paid to musicians and artists when their songs are played over Internet radio.
“Why is the company asking Congress once again to step and gut the royalties that thousands of musicians rely upon?” the open letter explains. “That’s not fair and that’s not how partners work together,”
“These artists have joined together to tell Pandora it’s time to go back to the drawing board. We all want Internet radio to succeed, but it won’t if it tries to do so on the backs of hard-working musicians and singers,” said musicFIRST Executive Director Ted Kalo.
“This issue is critical to the tens of thousands of recording artists we represent all of whom rely on this digital performance revenue stream to make a living,” said SoundExchange President Michael Huppe.“It is important that we protect artists and the long-term value of their music, which is, after all, the foundation of Internet radio.”Music Business Worldwide
