Webcasters to Go Silent in Protest of Royalty Rate Increase

Why is this important? If internet radio ceased to exist, we would not be worse off for it. Why don't copyright owners have the right to raise royalties however they wish?

 

Pastor Larry, it's a matter of economics. In most cases, webcasters are small, and offer music in formats that you don't typically find on regular radio. They don't get a lot of the advertising business like big firms and radio does, so their funds are limited.

Because they're small, these rate hikes will put undue financial burdens on them, and only the ones that can pay will be able to stay in business.

 

Isn't that what the market is supposed to do? If you make a product, you can charge people whatever you want to use it.

 

This is not about individual profit directly. it is about eliminating the competition.

 

Pastor Larry, I don't think I used the word "small" well enough.

This movement to raise these rates is similar to what's happening to small businesses across the country with employee wage hikes and increased business taxes.

The guy who wants to be his own boss and start his own company has to contend with overhead costs that are being dictated by government and "bigger" businesses. The bigger businesses hike the rates because they can still afford to pay them; the small business either has to comply with the rate hikes, or close its doors.

It's not a matter of competition; it's bigger corporations edging out small competitors, and ensuring there is no competition.

 

That's life in the marketplace though. Eliminating the competition is a shrewd business move.

As I understand it, the people who own the copyrights set the royalties. So if these people being played on internet radio owned their own copyrights, they could set their own royalties. I really don't see much to complain about here.

 

I am a capatalist. But business tactics that destroy the small business would destroy this country. Even Capatalism must have restrainsts. Destroying another mans business is not something I see God supporting.

 

Business is tough. That's what makes it affordable. But the music business is a particular one in which there is the ability for competition. the only way that major labels control royalties is if you sign with them. That's part of the deal. You make trade offs.

Good businesses always seem to find a way to survive.

 

So businesses that do not last are bad? This is the pie in the sky mentality that the libs are always referring to. Capitalism is the best system but even it can be abused. Much like in this situation.