2/22/2010

Today I'm thinking about the radio performance tax again. Really can't stop thinking about it because I am in danger of losing my job so I need to consider other careers just in case this thing passes. 

I don't understand why the record labels want to push this law through so badly. They get so much promotion from radio stations playing their music. If this radio performance tax passes radio stations will have to go off the air and those that do stay on the air will not be able to afford to keep live airstaff. The only choices for music the consumer will have will be the top selling formats of HOT country and top 40. In those formats you won't hear any new artist because no one will pay to take the chance on a new artist when established artists are sure to be hits. Record sales will continue to decline because people won't be familiar with new artists and some genres won't sell because people won't be exposed to their music via radio. Concert ticket sales will suffer because there won't be a venue to promote them. So this tax will not benefit the record labels, the artists and will certainly make it impossible for new artists to break out unless they are on American Idol and radio as we know it would die.

When we go to the record companies and say that this will kill radio because we can't afford to pay this tax their answer is "raise advertising rates." Then what happens is that businesses have to raise their prices to cover the additional ad costs and the consumer will suffer by being forced to pay higher prices for goods and services.

It is a trickle down affect and it is going to effect everyone if this passes. Visit our home page to find out what you can do to help keep radio the way it is.

There are many artists that are in favor of this bill, but there are some that understand that radio is an important part of what they do.

When asked if commercial success still motivates her Martina McBride says, "I don't think about it. You do want to be played on the radio; that's part of the dream, to hear yourself on the radio. That's a pretty cool feeling."

So even to the established artists record spins on the radio is the goal. Why would they let their labels take that feeling away from them?

I don't see the pay off for anyone in this situation, do you?

Your keyword is "Radio" 250 points.