You all know me. I’m the type of guy who sits on the sideline, keeps his mouth shut, and just lets things happen as they will. I’m a silent observer. Far be it from me to speak up, write angry letters, blog everything that’s on my mind …or Tweet it …or make it my Facebook status message. No, sir. I’m stoic. Like the “elder” in a tribe or cult. Only when my opinion is sought do I speak up.
But, I’m going to make a rare exception. And I do this with great trepidation and doubt, because when you throw your opinion around, if you misstep even sligthly and if you lack even the tiniest grasp of a concept of fact …well …woe be to you. May hundreds of angry emailers and random comments curse you and knock you down.
Below is my exception …I don’t support the Performance Rights Act. And like an angry-old-man, I’ve written a letter to my Congressman (albeit, an email, but my ink quill ran dry …I had to improvise.) Here’s that letter. Chastise as you will.
SUBJECT: I DO NOT SUPPORT Performance Rights Act
Dear Mr. Conyers
I’m a longtime supporter. However, I do not endorse your support and pursuit of the Performance Rights Act. I do not support it for the reasons it hurts small and independent broadcasters, as well as how it will affect large broadcasters.
I cannot decide to vote for you as I don’t live in your District, but as a proud citizen of Polish heritage who frequents Hamtramck many times each year, I’ll avoid it – and I will make my friends and the business owners I know aware of why I have avoided their proud city.
I believe the Performance Rights Act is a knee-jerk reaction to an overall change in music delivery and will not actually change anything. If large and small broadcasters owe more fees for the music they play, we’ll simply see less music being played – meaning less diversity, which is the goal you say you are seeking. That will hurt the consumer. Less music will mean less listeners. Which will hurt the stations and the hardworking sales people and on-air talent at the stations.
Who are these starving artists? Where are they being denied access? And if they are being denied access to the airwaves because there lacks a radio format for their voice and sound, how will this legislation benefit them? I believe the large record labels will be less likely to take risks on unknown artists, hence diversity is once again taking the hit.
95% of all citizens spent time with radio only a decade ago. Now, it’s 87%. In that time, we’ve seen the rise of digital music, satellite radio, MP3 players, and countless other modes of music delivery, so the diversity is there. Monetizing what artists are paid per performance and how they grow their audience should be left to the free-market and capitalist system we hold dear as United States citizens.
Instead, I would urge you to create greater access and knowledge of HD-radio technologies and the diversity that could bring to the broadcast spectrum. Create ways in which minority groups can access the myriad secondary channels, and how the general consumer might easily and affordably convert their radios to digital in the same way we’ve emphasized the need to convert our televisions (I would even urge that converting television to digital hasn’t created any diversity or access, whereas HD-radio would do the exact thing you seek.)
Thanks for your time. I hope this Act or Bill does not pass at this time, or ever.
