Re: How does royalty work for music played on radio?

"John R" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> I find that hard to believe that AM doesn't pay royalties.

There are different kinds of royalties.  Royalty systems are set up to
pay the (1) author or composer, (2) publisher, (3) artist, (4) company
making the original record.  In the U.S. radio stations and public
performance places (bars, nightclubs, concert arenas) do not pay
royalties to the last two.

Jennifer Lopez can sing until her tonsils fall out and she's not going
to get any royalties for her performances on the CDs the radio
stations play.

Many people heard of ASCAP and BMI before the Napster situation, but
few had heard of the RIAA.  That's because ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC
respresent the composers and publishers only.  RIAA represents the
artists and record companies.  Because computers are able to make
duplicate copies of CDs, RIAA wants to collect royalties for every
copy made, just as they now collect royalties for every copy sold in
record stores.

This is totally independent of the performance royalties, which are
paid by every known radio station, dance club, and corner bar -- and
even companies with music-on-hold.