Billy Corgan speaks at Congressional hearing

[sunky]

So you may have heard about this over the past few weeks, well it finally happened:

"Smashing Pumpkins founder Billy Corgan told Congress today that it is time to enact a fair performance right on radio for America's artists and musicians."



smashingpumpkins.com/pages/news/billy-corgan-speaks-at-congressional-hearing

Read Billy's letter to Congress here:
smashingpumpkins.com/pages/news/billy-corgans-full-congressional-testimony-available

Billy Comments on the event:
smashingpumpkins.com/pages/news/billy-comments-on-his-trip-to-congress

"Just waiting for my plane now to head home. I thought today's hearing went really well. In the room it came across that the congresspeople in the room really want to make sure that with this issue both the artists and the radio stations aren't hurt by this proposed change. I was very proud to be up there, and I thought many times of those struggling artists from the past that didn't get properly taken care of. I was inspired to try to be part of the solution for future artists. It was a great day. "

[brendo]

The way it should be, just like in the UK, where all performers get a cut.

[Cygnet]

Lol, pitchfork:

Billy Corgan Speaks Before Congress-
The world officially declared a vampire, by order of the U.S. government.

[AlmostOz]

I can't believe he's on the RIAA's side, the same organisation that goes and blindly threatens people with lawsuits for sharing music (they can't prove this) unless said person pays $3000 in settlements.

That came unstuck when they sued someone who didn't own a computer

[scotopic lux]

Mar 11, 2009 15:33:45 GMT 7 Cygnet said:

Lol, pitchfork:

Billy Corgan Speaks Before Congress-
The world officially declared a vampire, by order of the U.S. government.

haha, nice.

[foxy]

Mar 11, 2009 16:43:35 GMT 7 AlmostOz said:

I can't believe he's on the RIAA's side, the same organisation that goes and blindly threatens people with lawsuits for sharing music (they can't prove this) unless said person pays $3000 in settlements.

That came unstuck when they sued someone who didn't own a computer

did you read what he was defending??? As it currently stands in the US, performers don't get anything for having their songs played on the radio, just the songwriters... So that means that for most of the Pumpkins songs played on the radio, Billy is the only one who gets paid. If you do a shit hot cover of someone else's song and it gets played on the radio, the radio station can earn shit loads of money in advertising revenue because they are attracting listeners with the song that you paid the original artist for the rights and then the radio station gives you jack shit...

To me this overshadows the other questionable things that people are up in arms about lately... As I said before, Billy being the primary songwriter for the pumpkins benefits from the current legislation. To get up and fight for his band mates and other musicians is admirable.

[sunky]

Hear Billy speak on the Politco podcast: www.blogtalkradio.com/Politico

This was a short interview after he spoke at congress.

[scotopic lux]

Watch John Safran's Music Jamboree about the 'popstars' band, earned nothing at all because they are the performers and not songwriters. You get nothing unless you have a writing credit, absolutely insane isn't it.

[brendo]

Whereas in the UK, *everyone* gets a cut. If it was that bad a system, it would have changed years ago over there.

[sunky]

Video is from SP.com

Also the video of the question/answer time is on its way. (just having issues getting it together from the stupid Realplayer stream that was put out)

[Tragic Ether]

That pic at the top looks like Billy is the defence lawyer for Saddam Hussein.

[brendo]

Mar 11, 2009 16:43:35 GMT 7 AlmostOz said:

I can't believe he's on the RIAA's side, the same organisation that goes and blindly threatens people with lawsuits for sharing music (they can't prove this) unless said person pays $3000 in settlements.

That came unstuck when they sued someone who didn't own a computer

As previously stated, a blind/myopic viewpoint that fails to notice exactly what they're campaigning for, which is FAIRER treatment for artists.

[scotopic lux]

Thanks for the video, that was great to watch!