DiMA Comments on SoundExchange and Pureplay Webcaster Rate Agreement
Washington, D.C. (July 7, 2009) – Jonathan Potter, Executive Director of the Digital Media Association (DiMA), issued the following statement.“We are pleased that today’s royalty agreement between SoundExchange and pureplay webcasters will provide some relief from the crushing royalties that were imposed by the Copyright Royalty Board.
For many years one of DiMA’s top priorities has been to level the competitive playing field for Internet radio companies as compared to competing radio services, and today’s agreement is a step in that direction. We are particularly pleased that the new license is available to all commercial pureplay webcasters – including large pureplay webcasters.
DiMA anticipates that some of our members will take advantage of this new license, and so we again express our appreciation of the efforts of Congressional Internet radio supporters, including Representatives Jay Inslee, Don Manzullo, Zoe Lofgren, Rick Boucher and Senators Ron Wyden and Sam Brownback. We also thank Judiciary Committee leaders such as Chairman John Conyers, Jr. and Ranking Member Lamar Smith who supported passage of the Webcaster Settlement Acts of 2008 and 2009.
As Congress continues to focus more broadly on sound recording performance rights legislation, it continues to be our hope that comprehensive legislation will once-and-for-all level the playing field and ensure that all forms of digital radio are treated alike, so that consumers can choose among radio services based on the quality of their programming and service, and not have competition limited by discriminatory royalty rates.”
DiMA is the ambassador for the digital media industry: webcasters, online media, digital services, and technology innovators. DiMA advocates for business and regulatory environments that support our members’ growth and success, including fair competition, fair royalties, innovation and consumer welfare.
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For more information, please contact:
Sheri Lapan | Digital Media Association
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