LEGISLATING THE GENIE BACK INTO THE BOTTLE?

This week, the Christian Music Trade Association (CMTA), a sister organization to the Gospel Music Association (GMA) which specifically represent the interests of record companies, has issued official resolutions to the Commerce and Judiciary Committees of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), urging their support in recognizing the importance of protecting music transmitted over digital broadcast radio, announced John W. Styll, president of the CMTA and GMA.

The resolutions specifically petition for the advancement of HR 4861, a bill which would revise Section 114 of the Copyright Act, granting the FCC limited authority to protect digital audio broadcasts from illegal copying and redistribution over digital networks. The bill was introduced by Representative Mike Ferguson and co-sponsored by Rep. Marsha Blackburn, Rep. Bart Gordon, Rep. Edolphus Towns and Rep. Mary Bono.

“Digital piracy has wreaked economic harm at all levels of the music business, including the gospel music industry. Now, with new recording devices capable of recording satellite radio broadcasts and digital broadcasts from terrestrial radio stations, we are concerned that further damage will be inflicted on copyright owners and in turn, the record labels, musicians, recording artists, recording engineers, record store owners and others employed in gospel music. As part of our advocacy responsibility, the CMTA was compelled to make these direct appeals to our legislators and the appropriate regulatory authority,” said Styll.

From New Music Tuesday.


Will this work? What do think?