Although they fight tooth and nail over performance royalties, music labels and radio broadcasters have turned from enemies to frenemies when it comes to FM radio chips in smartphones. Both industries want Congress to mandate that FM radio receivers be built into cell phones, PDAs and other portable electronic devices. And how do those cell phone, PDA and other portable electronic device manufacturers feel about that? "The backroom scheme of the NAB and RIAA to have Congress mandate broadcast radios in portable devices, including mobile phones, is the height of absurdity," says Consumer Electronics Association president Gary Shapiro. The less-than-enthusiastic Shapiro adds this punctuation to his statement: "Such a move is not in our national interest." Got it? Shapiro had more: "Rather than adapt to the digital marketplace, NAB and RIAA act like buggy-whip industries that refuse to innovate and seek to impose penalties on those that do." ...
This newly formed alliance between music and radio appears to be part of a grand scheme leading to a compromise and settlement with regard to the Performance Rights Act. Radio is leaning toward paying around $100 million a year (less than it feared) and in return it would get access to a larger market through the mandated FM radio chips in portable devices. "As regards the chip, this is a key issue for the radio industry" according to musicFIRST and they too like FM chips in smartphones, PDAs, etc. "It gives consumers access to more music choices." ...
Shapiro counters with this: "The performance royalty legislation voted out of the Senate Judiciacy Committee does not include this onerous and backward-looking radio requirement." Shapiro is determined to keep it that way. There are reports that the deal has not been finalized but when it is, the two sides still need to convince Congress to go along. Both musicFIRST and the NAB are hopeful something can be wrapped up late this year or early in 2011. The NABs Dennis Wharton has another wrinkle to add: "We would argue that having radio capability on cell phones and other mobile devices would be a great thing, particularly (cue the violins) from a public safety perspective. There are few if any technologies that match the reliability of broadcast radio in terms of getting lifeline information to the masses." Uh-huh...
10 Timeline Memories:
1.1790] Musical Capitals: The capital of these United States moves from New York City to Philadelphia. Apparently they preferred cheesesteaks more than bagels and lox...
2.1896] Thar's gold in them thar hills: The Klondike gold rush is set off by George Carmack who discovers gold in Rabbit Creek, Alaska...
3.1920] "Happy Trails": 29-year old Ray Chapman of the Cleveland Indians is beaned by Yankees fastballer Carl Mays on August 16th and succumbs to the beaning today. It's the first and last time a baseball player is killed in a game (so far)...1973] 34-year old Paul Williams of The Temptations dies from a self-inflicted gun shot wound...
4.1969] Woodstock finale: The Woodstock Music and Art Fair concludes near Bethel (NY)...
5.1969] Eye of a hurricane: Hurricane Camille slams into the Gulf Coast, killing 248...
6.1987] Hess checks out: Rudolf Hess, last member of Adolf Hitler's inner circle is an apparent suicide at Spandau prison at age 93...
7.1992] Daddy dearest: Woody Allen admits to being romantically involved with 17-year old Soon-Yi Previn, adopted daughter of Mia Farrow, Allen's longtime companion. They are now married. Woody and Soon-Yi, not Woody and Mia...
8.1998] "I'm confessin": President Bill Clinton finally admits to an improper relationship (but not sex, right?) with "That woman, Miss Lewinsky"...
9.2000] Mazel tov: The Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles nominates Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman for vice president. The video shows his days supporting John McCain...
10.2008] Olympic Gold: American swimmer Michael Phelps wins his eighth gold medal, setting a record for most golds at an Olympic games, beating Mark Spitz's previous record of 7 set in 1972...
Music Memories:
•1964] Released on this date: "You Really Got Me" - Kinks...1968] "Hush" - Deep Purple...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Dustin Pedroia (27), Jorge Posada (39), Donnie Wahlberg (41), Sean Penn (50), Belinda Carlisle (52), Robert DeNiro (67) and Maureen O'Hara (90)...
Timeline Countdown: 20 days until Labor Day, 23 days until the NFL opener (Minn. @ New Orleans) & 32 days until autumn arrives...
