Performance Rights Act

I wanted to take the time to voice some of my thoughts about the Performance Rights Act.  This topic is being kicked around at my school a bit, so thought I would post my discussion post here.  There are so many points of view on this matter, so I read an article that takes a more neutral stance on this bill, as this position more closely reflects my own. 

The article I chose was written by Matthew Lasar - June 8 2010, 12:08pm EDT and can be read in its entirety by clicking the HERE.

Since ASCAP and BMI have been in place, broadcast stations have paid for the ability to transmit the music we enjoy over the air, to our radio receivers, for our enjoyment.  All the while, holding the power of popularity, fame, and fortune, virtually in their antennas.  The amount of that money that actually makes it to the artist and their individual performers may not be an exuberant amount, but it has always been present.  Keep in mind, also, in times past, radio was very important to the success of a musician.  This isn't entirely the case in this day and age and may no longer even be a viable source of status to new and upcoming artists.

There will be huge growing pains with this bill, should it pass, and tons of adjustments that will need to be made in order for it to be a viable alternative to the current mode of operations.  For instance, what we think might be an opportunity for the lesser-known musicians to gain some benefit, could actually turn up to have the exact opposite outcome.  If a radio station is going to have to shell out big bucks to an artist and the “powers that be”, which govern and manage them, they aren’t going to be playing the lesser-known artists at all.

I did notice, when reading from the GovTrack.us web site, in Section 6, that 1% of the receipts from the licensing of PPR via audio transmission will be paid by the copyright owners into the American Federation of Musicians and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund.  The distribution is then made to non-featured vocalists and musicians from thisfund.

I would really like to know what the numbers would look like in a side-by-side comparison as to how much more money all artists involved will actually be exposed to as a result of this bill… will it truly mean that much more revenue for them?