Reality Radio

Sound Exchange $200 Million Balance Suddenly $39 Million??

trinaliggins — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 02:59:38 +0000

According to Digital Music News, Sound Exchange is in the midst of some serious damage control. After confirming an outstanding balance of $200 million in unpaid royalties to Digital Music News, SoundExchange is now shifting its calculations. In response to growing concern over the large amount of unpaid funds, SoundExchange executive Bryan Calhoun is backing a drastically-reduced, $39 million unpaid figure – yet, he has declined to offer any documentation or direct discussion to Digital Music News.

According to publicly-available IRS documents (click here to view see line 34, under ‘Net Assets and Fund Balances), the year-end, unpaid balance in 2008 was actually approaching $260 million ($259.7 million). Presented with that $260 million figure earlier this month, SoundExchange immediately shaved the balance down to $200 million for early 2009 based on ongoing payouts.

Click here to read more from Digital Music News…

RIAA Loses!

Reality Radio — Sun, 02 May 2010 20:18:49 +0000

Check out this video by Juris Vodcast on the RIAA and their law suits:

Click here to read the judges ruling….

Taking A Stand: Protecting Local Radio Stations

Reality Radio — Sun, 02 May 2010 19:58:42 +0000

HR 848 is effecting radio stations all across the country. Debbie Bush, Vice President and General Manager of WFIE in Indiana gives her take on how the passing of the Performance Royalty Tax will effect her station.Debbie Bush starts her article saying “There are a couple of bills in Congress that I would like to talk about. These bills could potentially kill our local radio stations.”

This bill is not only effecting Black Radio, but local radio stations across the country. Debbie goes on in her article to say that local broadcasters need to take a stand against the passing of this bill. She goes on to stress the importance of radio to the local community.

If this tax is put in place, the community events that listeners are able to enjoy for free will be no more. Help us save local radio! Write your congressman today!

Click here for Debbie Bush’s full article…

Welcome To Reality Radio

trinaliggins — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 20:09:22 +0000

Warning: call_user_func_array() [function.call-user-func-array]: First argument is expected to be a valid callback, 'Array' was given in D:\Hosting\4505181\html\wp-includes\plugin.php on line 166

Al Sharpton Emerges As Major Ally Of President Obama

trinaliggins — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 22:16:19 +0000

Sharpton speaks out in support of President Obama’s initiatives for all Americans, while other prominent black figures challenge the President. Read clips from The Wall Street Journal’s article labeling Mr. Sharpton as Obama’s New Partner.

Among the outspoken African-American political and social figures that have criticized President Obama for not doing more for black Americans in these tough economic times, Al Sharpton has emerged as the voice of support for Obama’s presidential initiatives designed to help all Americans.

According to an article written for The Wall Street Journal, “President Barack Obama has turned to Mr. Sharpton in recent weeks to answer increasingly public criticism in the black community over his economic policy. Some black leaders are charging that the nation’s first African-American president has failed to help black communities hit hard by the downturn, leaving party strategists worried that black Democrats will become dispirited and skip November’s congressional elections.”

Sharpton used the platform of his national radio show to fire back stating that “The president does not need to get out there and do what we should be doing,” adding that if the President did just that, it would create just the right climate for conservatives and other Obama critics to defeat legislation that would actually assist blacks, rather than hurt them.

On one particular show, Al Sharpton and Tavis Smiley, prominent black talk show host, butted heads over this issue where Mr. Sharpton stated that “…it was a ‘double standard’ for Mr. Smiley and other critics to expect more from a black president than they would demand of a white Democratic president.”

Although during most of his campaign, President Obama steered clear of historically radical black civil rights leaders, Al Sharpton is now an unlikely ally in addressing the concerns of some black leaders and establishing solidarity for the president.

To read the entire article “Obama’s New Partner: Al Sharpton,” visit The Wall Street Journal online.

Listen to the big debate between Tavis Smiley and Al Sharpton:

[ione-gallery id="15412" src="http://crosspost.interactiveone.com"]

Radio One Should Pump Up The Volume!

Reality Radio — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:01:17 +0000

The battle has been drawn. Hughes is waging a war against targeted members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) that is worth noting.

Regarding political empowerment, Blacks now hold high rankings in Congress, but their impact for Blacks in general is negligible. Economic empowerment is represented by Cathy Hughes, founder and chair of Radio One, Inc. Radio One owns or operates 53 radio stations located in 16 urban markets and has interests in TV One, a cable/satellite network; and Reach Media, Inc., owner of the Tom Joyner Morning Show and businesses associated with Tom Joyner.

Stations ‘in jeopardy’

As Black members have risen in seniority and status on Capitol Hill, there has been a contrasting chorus accusing them of “not being accountable” to Blacks. Hughes is upset that Black radio properties are “in jeopardy at the hands of a Black man.” That Black man is John Conyers, the 80-year-old Detroit congressman and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

The longest-serving African-American in the history of the House is a jazz aficionado. Conyers developed an interest in jazz as a teenager in Detroit and played trumpet. In 2007, Conyers introduced the Performance Rights Act, the focus of Ms. Hughes’ ire. The chairlady of the nation’s largest chain of Black-formatted radio stations alleges that Conyers’ bill, H.R. 848, will cost her money.

Under current law, stations only pay copyright royalties to artists who compose hit songs, not those who perform them. Station owners say a law requiring them to pay additional royalties would bankrupt them. Recording artists get money for concerts and make money selling downloads or CDs. But they get nothing when their songs play on the radio. That money goes to the people who write and publish the songs.

Radio One controls a host of airwaves in districts where Black Members of Congress reside and has the clout to attack their legislative actions. How many times have you heard ads on Radio One stations or programs propagating that the legislation is a “performance tax” that is going to destroy Black radio? Hughes has the power to put a legislative issue that normally would have escaped public attention on the minds of millions.

New strategy

Some will argue whether the issue is a legitimate ‘Black concern.’ The battle has brought about a new dimension that could work against lawmakers used to easy reelections.

Hughes’ ads have targeted a number of Black lawmakers and even questioned the integrity of Chairman Conyers. The fight has divided the civil rights community, with the NAACP and the League of United Latin American Citizens supporting Conyers, while Blacks such as the Rev. Al Sharpton and the Rev. Jesse Jackson line up with Hughes and other Black-owned stations. Radio One operates stations in or near the districts of Reps. Sheila Jackson-Lee (Houston); Mel Watt (Charlotte, NC); Hank Johnson (Atlanta); and Robert “Bobby” Scott (Richmond, Va.) and aired ads criticizing them.

Major impact

Hughes’ practices could have a major impact on the national Black political landscape. It has begun to take a toll on Black long-time lawmakers accustomed to cruising to reelections. In chiding CBC members that support Conyers’ legislation, Hughes says, “All five of these Black elected officials continue to ignore the imminent danger to Black media ownership.” Criticizing Jackson-Lee for claiming that Conyers’ bill would not force any Black-owned stations out of business, Hughes says, “How could she possibly know anything about what it takes or doesn’t take to operate a broadcast facility?”

As Congress returns to sessions, Ms. Hughes should pump up the volume to defeat H.R. 848. It’s a brand of political activism others should well follow.

Contact William Reed via www.Black- PressInternational.com.

Cathy Hughes Receives Kappa Alpha Psi Humanitarian Award

Reality Radio — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:40:54 +0000

Radio One, Inc. Founder and Chairperson, Cathy Hughes received the Kappa Alpha Psi Humanitarian Award along with President Barack Obama, Senator Mary Landrieu and Dr. Ian Smith; August 4th at the Kappa Annual Convention.

For Immediate Release: August 11th, 2009

Contact: Coffi Bell (301)429-3263

Radio One, Inc. Founder & Chairperson Cathy Hughes receives
Kappa Alpha Psi Humanitarian Award with President Barack Obama

Washington, DC – August 4, 2009

Kappa Congressman John Conyers congratulates Cathy Hughes of Radio One
on her receiving the Kappa Alpha Psi Humanitarian Award

Washington, DC- Radio One, Inc. Founder & Chairperson, Cathy Hughes received the Kappa Alpha Psi Humanitarian Award along with President Barack Obama, Senator Mary Landrieu (LA), and Dr. Ian Smith at the Kappa Annual Convention in Washington, DC on August 4, 2009.

It was standing room only in the main ballroom of the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in the Nation’s Capital with over 5000 Grand Kappa Fraternity Brothers and their Sweethearts and fellow Pan Hellenic Members for the opening session of the largest annual convention in Kappa Alpha Psi history. Opening night ceremonies provided the occasion for the awarding of the highest honors that the 98-year old Fraternity bestows.

The Laurel Wreath Awards, which are the highest honor for the members of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, this year, were awarded to Dr. Carl Anderson, Ralph J. Bryson, Nathaniel R. Jones and Thomas A. Moorehead. Humanitarian Awards (the highest honor for non-members) were bestowed upon President Barack Ohama, Senator Mary Landrieu, Dr. Ian Smith and Cathy Hughes. The President came to the convention to personally receive his Humanitarian Award from the Kappas. Also in attendance at the convention was the Kappa Mayor of Washington, DC, Adrian Fenty and the current Kappa members of Congress, Alcee Hastings, Lacy Clay, Sanford Bishop, and John Conyers and former Kappa members of Congress, Representative Walter Fauntroy and Louis Stokes.

In accepting her Humanitarian Award from Kappa Alpha Psi, Cathy Hughes thanked the Fraternity for their ongoing support of the Piney Woods School. The 100-year old school in Piney Woods, Mississippi was the recipient of a $1 million dollar contribution from Kappa Alpha Psi during their fundraiser on August 6, 2009. The Founder of the school, Dr. Laurence C. Jones, was one of the very first African American college graduates in this country and one of the early members of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and is the maternal grandfather of Cathy Hughes. The presentation to Piney Woods School was made by Grand Polemarch Dwayne M. Murray who noted that the four presidents of Piney Woods School have all been Kappa Alpha Psi active members. Cathy Hughes credited much of her success to the Kappa men whom she “had been blessed to have in her life.” She also expressed her gratitude to the Fraternity for including her in the distinguished company of the President of the United States, Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, and Dr. Ian Smith of the 50 Million Pound Challenge.

The evening’s Award presentations were spectacularly handled by Grand Polemarch Dwayne M. Murray, Executive Director/COO Richard Lee Snow and National Committee Chairman Kevin J. Johnson. The evening’s Public Meeting was perfectly staged with dramatic sound, light and video effects. Live performances included the vocal artistry of Kappa Brother Jonathan Hicks and comic great Sheryl Underwood brought the house down when she protested her two minute limit on remarks as the International Grand Basileus of Zeta Phi Beta, proclaiming that “there is nothing a Zeta sister can do with a Kappa brother in two minutes” and then demanded that they “reset the clock,” which they graciously did. However, when other speakers started to run “well” over their allotted time – Academy Awards sounding music started to play softly in the background and the audience loved the reactions of the speakers who sometimes just as graciously ignored it.

Cathy Hughes described her view from the stage of the Public Meeting as “a sea of strong, brilliant, committed, college educated, good looking black men, from all walks of life, nattily attired in varying shades of Crimson and Cream with creases in their trousers and a shine on their shoes that paled in comparison to the illuminating smiles on their faces.” “Awesome is the right description of the entire Kappa Convention,” she went on to add.

Radio One, Inc. (www.radio-one.com) is one of the nation’s largest radio broadcasting companies and the largest radio broadcasting company that primarily targets African-American and urban listeners. Radio One currently owns 53 broadcast stations located in 16 urban markets in the United States. Additionally, Radio One owns Giant Magazine (www.giantmag.com), and Community Connect Inc. (www.communityconnect.com), an online social networking company, which operates a number of branded websites, including BlackPlanet, MiGente, and Asian Avenue. The Company owns an equity interest in TV One, LLC (www.tvoneonline.com), a cable/satellite network programming primarily to African-Americans and Reach Media, Inc. (www.blackamericaweb.com), owner of the Tom Joyner Morning Show and other businesses associated with Tom Joyner.

# # #

The Man Can’t Tax Our Music!

Reality Radio — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:03:45 +0000

For decades, record companies have been begging radio stations to play their music. Sometimes they do more than beg: Few sorts of scandal reappear as reliably in the music business as a payola scandal, in which agents of the labels are caught bribing broadcasters to air their wares. In the Internet age, the AM and FM dials aren’t as important to promoting music as they used to be, but they continue to play the preeminent role in the process. As Clive Davis, a dominant figure in the record industry since the ’60s, told USA Today just this month, “Radio is still the leading force of determining what songs and artists break through.”

Now the Recording Industry Association of America and a coalition of other industry groups are backing a bill, the Performance Rights Act, that would require those same stations to pay a new fee for the right to air those records. An industry that is infamously willing to pay for airplay apparently wants to charge for airplay too.

This isn’t the small tribute the stations have long paid to songwriters. The money will go instead to the performers and copyright owners. (Those are sometimes, but not always, the same thing.) It would essentially be an extension of a fee already paid by Internet, satellite, and cable radio stations—indeed, the industry’s basic argument for the measure is that it will close a “loophole” that has allowed traditional outlets to escape the payment. The musicFIRST Coalition, a lobby created two years ago to push for such a bill, has accused broadcasters opposed to the legislation of believing that “AM and FM music radio stations should continue to get special treatment, that AM and FM music radio stations do not have to play by the rules, and that AM and FM music radio stations should enjoy a competitive advantage over other music platforms.”

But it’s not as though this is an inexplicable inconsistency in the law. The disparity didn’t exist until 1995, when Congress passed the Digital Performance Right in Sound Recordings Act at the behest of the very forces that now decry the separate-and-unequal system that bill created. W. Jonathan Cardi, an assistant professor of law at the University of Kentucky, summarized the record industry’s argument for the act in a 2007 article for the Iowa Law Review:

without some ability to control the digital performance of their recordings, they would be less able to prevent infringements of their existing reproduction, distribution, and derivative work rights. The labels maintained, for example, that if online services could freely transmit recordings in any manner they pleased, such performances would facilitate the creation of infringing reproductions on users’ computer hard drives.

Click here to read the rest of this article…..

Courtesy of Reasononline/Jesse Walker