RIAA getting out of control

GoldenSpiral wrote: The problem is FM radio as a whole doesn't have a powerful lobby like the RIAA has.  I might expect the large corporate stations, such as the ones owned by Clear Channel or Sinclair Media to survive (in fact, i've heard rumors that this royalty fee might be waived for such stations if they cooperate...), but smaller media companies, and the independent stations (the only good ones IMO) will go under immediately.

I wonder if this will only yield more consolidation by ClearChannel, etc.

As long as I can still have NPR, jazz, and classical...about the only thing FM is good for nowadays, at least in the Philly area.

Yeah, I remember when local radio stations were important in helping break bands regionally then nationally. Your local station could add a song that was getting requested a lot, without waiting for Head Office to program it. You get enough stations lined up & who knows, you get a national break & so on. But that was when radio made a difference. With the advent of CD players in cars, MP3 players, Ipods an all, the only ones listening to radio are the ones who are really music buyers.
The ones who do so are out looking for stations that play to the niche, whether it be college stations, independants & god help us all, Public Radio. Here in Canada, on CBC radio, their schedule is filled with alternative, indie, jazz, avant-garde shows. They may be on later at night, but once you find one that gives you those treasures, you'll never bother with regular radio. Internet radio has so much promise, let's hope that the new royalties deal doesn't kill the goose before it starts laying golden eggs.

Ivan_Melgar_M wrote: StyLaZyn wrote:   So you are saying that the RIAA has a motive to shut down FM radio?  As I understand it, regular FM radio stations struggle to survive as it is.   Don't put words in my mouth, I never said they have reasons to shut down AM, FM or INTERNET radio, the law is with the radios, RIAA is asking the Congress to change a law to their convenience.

^^OK. I could have asked the question better, as to ask if the possibility could exist.  I type the way I talk, sometimes forgetting there may be a slight language barrier.