Idolator

The recording industry is still locked in a battle with the radio business, saying that radio needs to help them fatten their profit margins to pre-Napster levels pay royalties on the songs it plays, because music is the lifeblood of radio and this whole "free play" thing that's been in effect for years is just not fair. The National Association of Broadcasters, which represents the terrestrial-radio industry, claims that the reason it doesn't pay royalties for playing music involves radio's value as a "promotional tool," which stems from the idea that, perhaps, maybe people will actually be moved to acquire music after actually getting a chance to hear it and decide whether or not they like it. But musicians and record labels and songwriters are not having it. They want their money now! As musicFirst spokesman Martin Machowsky told Wired's Threat Level: "[Broadcasting songs on radio is] a form of piracy, if you will, but not in the classic sense as we think of it... Today we gifted them a can of herring, about their argument that they provide promotional value. We think that's a red herring." (What is this, Clue?) "Nobody listens to the radio for the commercials." Tell that to the guy who sings the Foxwoods commercial, Martin! More »