The High Road  

Lately there has been quite a bit of buzz about the Performance Rights Act (HR 848).  Primarily I hear Kathy Hughes & Tom Joyner of Radio One talk about how detrimental the passing of the "Performance Tax" could be to Black Radio Stations. 

If The Performance Rights Act Passes radio stations would be required to pay a fee to everyone who performs on a record, from the composer to the artist(s) to background musicians and singers to the person or company that owns the copyright to the song. That would be in addition to what they already pay to artist associations ASCAP, BMI and SESAC.

Broadcasters are saying that would be the financial deathblow to already struggling stations small and large.  But based on what you hear on any given day when you turn on your friendly neighborhood "Urban Radio" station I'm not so sure that's a bad thing.

When I'm riding in my minivan with my children I can't listen to what's being played for any length of time.  I made the mistake of stopping my scan on the RADIO ONE time and the particular station I landed on was playing a song about a girl and a lollipop(not as innocent as it sounds).  After 10 seconds and 3 murdered braincells I was forced to change the channel and stop the assault.

Sadly that's not just a fluke because the next station had similar songs in rotation.   On days when I give it a chance & let a few songs play or check back at different times throughout the day my thoughts are confirmed.  Poison is flowing over the airwaves mixed in with an occaisional Kirk Franklin or Mary Mary song just to keep it real for the LORD.

With the rise of Web 2.0, Social Media, and the talented Independent artist that is actually working to uplift fallen humanity through art, I'm thinking that the death of "Black Radio" at the hands of HR 848 could mean the rise of a new force in the broadcasting world that actually serves & meets the most critical needs of its listeners. 

Do the right thing & the money will come.