[Dixielandjazz] This from the American Federation of Musicians

[Stephen G Barbone]

The below from the American Federation of Musicians. Those of us who  
have music on Sirius XM, either as performers on someone else's record  
label or as record label owners (indie), and are currently getting  
paid royalties from SoundExchange might be interested in reading it.

And those whose music is being played on SiriusXM (or ibternet radio,  
cable TV etc)  and are not getting royalties because they don't know  
about SoundExchange, might want to visit  the SoundExchange website  
and register for their payments. They are being held for you.

Suggest you google search SoundExchange and register to collect your  
royalties.

http://www.soundexchange.com/

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband



This if from the AF of M

SiriusXM Licensing Scheme Would Divert Performer Royalties to  
Independent Record Labels

In a move that is blatantly anti-artist and anti-musician, SiriusXM is  
seeking to sign up independent labels to a "direct license" deal that  
reduces the money it pays for music and gives your share to the record  
label, instead of directly to you — the performer.

Since the inception of satellite radio, Sirius and XM have paid  
royalties (required by the "statutory license" established by  
Congress) directly to SoundExchange. SoundExchange then pays half  
those royalties to artists (45% to featured artists and 5% to the AFM/ 
AFTRA Fund for distribution to session performers) and half to the  
record labels. Artists — whether featured royalty artists or session  
singers — benefit from this system because performers get their 50%  
share Congress allocated to them directly and without recoupment. And  
everyone — artists and labels alike — benefits from SoundExchange's  
transparent operations, low administrative costs, vigorous efforts to  
set fair license rates for music, and responsiveness to artist and  
label concerns. Moreover, SoundExchange is governed by a Board  
composed equally of label and artist representatives, including the  
unions.

SiriusXM is now seeking to undo your protections. How?

SiriusXM is approaching independent labels in an effort to get them to  
"direct license" for less than the established SoundExchange rate. Why  
would any label take that? SiriusXM is offering this deal to  
independents to bypass SoundExchange and pay the artists' and  
musicians' share to the label. Yes, that's right. SiriusXM is offering  
to pay the independent labels all 100% of the license fee to the  
label, and cut the direct payment to the performers right out of the  
equation.

There is no question that SiriusXM's offer is anti-artist and anti- 
musician. We think it's incredibly bad for labels, too. The quest to  
get music for the lowest price possible — and make no mistake, that is  
the quest SiriusXM is on — leads to a very bad place for the music  
industry, where music is devalued and no-one — not artists, not  
musicians, not recording companies — can earn a fair living creating  
or investing in the music everyone wants to hear.

Independent Artists and Musicians: let your labels know that you  
believe they should support the long-term value of music by refusing  
the SiriusXM offer and insisting on the statutory license established  
by Congress and the system administered by SoundExchange which ensures  
transparency, efficiency, accountability — and most important direct,  
non-recoupable payment to artists of their fair share of royalties for  
SiriusXM's use of your music.