I have little sympathy for the so-called ‘struggling artists’ that Ms. Warwick speaks of, when the very people the Performance Royalty Act would hit are struggling just as much if not more. Does Ms. Warwick have any idea how much radio stations are suffering? Does she have any idea how much the people who work at these stations are suffering? Does she have any idea how much owners of small and medium-sized stations are suffering? Does she have any idea what this would do to the families of community servants?
Quite honestly, I’m tired of supplementing the income of record company executives, artists, composers, etc… while I have to cut salaries, cut support staff and cut services. Quite honestly, I’m tired of every other person trying to get their hand in the pockets of small business, period!
While my revenues have shrunk, my ASCAP, BMI & SESAC payments have gone up. While my revenues have shrunk, streaming royalties have be layered on top (even though most smaller and medium stations make zero dollars on this community service). While my revenues have shrunk, radio companies are actually contemplating asking the government for stimulus money.
Ms. Warwick, record company executives, music license organizations, etc… get away from what’s left of my checkbook or there won’t be any industry left to promote (for free!) your music, concert tours and philanthropies.
Andrew Shearer, President Royal Broadcasting, Inc.
(a small radio company with little rope left to navigate)
