Thursday, November 4, 2010

Don't Expect Any Decision From Congress On PRA...

One thing certain about the status of the Performance Rights Act, following the midterm election results is that we won't see any involvement from Congress any time soon. Not only did radio lose some allies on Capitol Hill, this lame-duck session of Congress isn't likely to be very active on anything, especially a non-issue for the public which is what the PRA is. The interest on PRA comes from the radio and music industries. John and Jane Q. Public care about having a job, paying the mortgage or rent, putting enough food on the table, health care and little else...

Variety believes that "With GOP control of the House, and a slimmer Democratic majority in the Senate, the chances of a Performance Rights Act getting through any time soon are greatly diminished. Last summer it looked as if they would strike some kind of a compromise that would have meant a bill could pass through Congress during the lame-duck session. But those prospects were thrown in doubt after the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) issued a list of terms that artists and record labels saw as a break from the prior agreement. The legislation does have the support of Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and other GOP lawmakers from the Los Angeles and Nashville areas, but that support may not be great enough to counter the influence of broadcasters in the next Congress." ...

Without a public outcry about performance royalties and a lame-duck Congress in session, the only way this showbiz dilemma gets hammered out is by both sides reaching a compromise. Short of that, they'll be talking forever...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1842] Wedding Bells: Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd rock down the aisle...
2.1922] King Tut sighting: The entrance to King Tutankhamen's tomb is discovered (by Steve Martin?) in Egypt...
3.1924] Madam Governor: Nellie T. Ross (Wyoming) is elected the nation's 1st woman Governor, chosen to serve the remaining term of her husband William who died in office...
4.1979] Hostage Crisis Day 1: Militants storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran as the Iranian Hostage Crisis begins (52 hostages will be held for the next 14 months)... 5.1980] Reagan romp: Ronald Reagan wins the White House, defeating Jimmy Carter soundly...
6.1991] Reagan retirement: Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter and Bush help Reagan dedicate his Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley (CA)...
7.1995] Cut down: Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin is assassinated by a Jewish extremist after speaking at a peace rally in Tel Aviv...
8.2007] Record breaker: Antonio Cromartie of the San Diego Chargers breaks the record for the longest play in NFL history with a 109-yard missed field goal return...
9.2008] 'Happy Trails': Michael Crichton, author of Jurassic Park, The Lost World and The Andromeda Strain, dies from lymphoma at 66...
10.2008] Barack and roll: Democrat Barack Obama wins the 2008 U.S. presidential election, beating Republican John McCain. Obama becomes the first African American President of these United States...

Music Memories:

Commentary:
The 30th Reunion of the original Rock 'N' Bowl to benefit the Bogart Pediatric Cancer Research Program takes place on Wednesday night (7-11PM), November 17, 2010 at Pinz, Studio City at 12655 Ventura Blvd. For additional information and registration forms, click here...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": Vince Wilfork (29), Matthew McConaughey (41), Diddy (41), Jeff Probst (48), Kathy Griffin (50), Markie Post (60), Laura Bush (64), Loretta Swit (73) and Doris Roberts (80)...

Timeline Countdown: 2 nights until standard time, 21 days until Thanksgiving, 27 days until Hanukah, 47 days until winter and 50 days until Christmas...


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