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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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August
10, 2007
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Dennis Wharton
202-429-5350
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SONG
REMAINS THE SAME FROM SOUNDEXCHANGE:
TWO MONTHS OF STONY SILENCE
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Day 65: RIAA-dominated group continues to ignore broadcasters' good-faith
offer --
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Webcasting's promising future threatened --
WASHINGTON,
DC - NAB today placed a "shot-clock" graphic on its Web site
emphasizing SoundExchange's continued refusal to respond to a good-faith
offer from NAB to resolve a rate dispute related to radio stations that
stream music online.
NAB's original
offer was made on June 6 in a meeting between executives from NAB and
SoundExchange, an organization created by the record conglomerates that
comprise the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) to establish
and collect royalties for digital sound recordings. For 65 days, NAB has
received no response, despite assurances from SoundExchange that a response
would be forthcoming.
"The
sounds of silence from SoundExchange are deafening," said NAB Executive
Vice President Dennis Wharton. "SoundExchange's callous refusal to
respond to our reasonable offer threatens not only the recording artists
they purport to represent, but also a fledgling technology that benefits
listeners."
NAB continues
to actively support the Internet Radio Equality Act, legislation that
would reverse a controversial Copyright Royalty Board decision that dramatically
increased rates for local radio stations and webcasters that stream music
over the Internet. The bill was introduced by Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) in
the House and has garnered 140 co-sponsors. Similar legislation, also
supported by NAB, has been offered in the Senate by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR)
and Sam Brownback (R-KS).
About
NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is a trade association that
advocates on behalf of more than 8,300 free, local radio and television
stations and also broadcast networks before Congress, the Federal Communications
Commission and the Courts. Information about NAB can be found at www.nab.org.
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