Opinion: From payola to royalties?

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The RIAA has taken a full ration of abuse for suggesting that local radio stations pay royalties to record labels, too, instead of just to songwriters’ performance royalty organizations (e.g., ASCAP). It’s probably just an academic debate; I doubt Congress would ever enact something so fiercely opposed by the National Association of Broadcasters. Nevertheless, unlike the steep increase pending in webcasting royalties, the RIAA’s argument for radio royalties doesn’t deserve the battering it’s taking online. Read more at the Bit Player blog.