Canada songwriters $10 fee for download

Subject: Canada songwriters $10 fee for download
From: bobad
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 08:36 AM

"Canadian songwriters are again targeting Internet file-sharing, this time with a proposal for consumer licences that could add as much as $10 to monthly Internet bills.

It would allow holders to download as much music as they wanted without fear of legal reprisal."

"Buying a licence would allow Canadians to download as much music as they wanted during the month using free peer-to-peer file-sharing services, marking a huge change over buying albums or songs individually from services such as iTunes.

The licence fees could net songwriters as much as $840 million annually if every Internet subscriber took out a licence, the group said."

http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Canadian+songwriters+propose+music+sharing/4387146/story.html

Subject: RE: Canada songwriters $10 fee for download
From: GUEST,Reality
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 10:47 AM

Like songwriters would see penny ONE from any such fee...

Subject: RE: Canada songwriters $10 fee for download
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 12:04 PM

"Like songwriters would see penny ONE from any such fee..."

Maybe not a lot but if SOCAN is collecting they should be forthright and honest as to how they would distribute the money. The big publishers hold so many of the copyrights that they would no doubt do very well. The little guy would have to be content with leftover crumbs and probably have to join SOCAN to see anything.

Subject: RE: Canada songwriters $10 fee for download
From: GUEST,999
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 05:35 PM

SOCAN is an honourable company. Been dealing with the good folks there since about 1980; they are worth joining. Mostly musicians--or were back in the day.

Subject: RE: Canada songwriters $10 fee for download
From: bobad
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 05:59 PM

Do those of you who are songwriters see this as a reasonable solution to the illegal download problem?

Subject: RE: Canada songwriters $10 fee for download
From: GUEST,999
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 06:17 PM

It's a try at a solution, bobad. To people at the bottom of the food chain--that august group includes me--a twentieth of a percent we might see won't mean much. But it will let the leeches know that someone cares. I hope.

Subject: RE: Canada songwriters $10 fee for download
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 06:19 PM

While I'm all for songwriters and performers getting their due on downloads, I object to the idea of charging for a service not everyone uses and then forcing nonusers to prove that they're not using it to escape the charge. I don't download music and I'd be far less than happy if I had to jump through a bunch of hoops to prove that fact to someone.

Subject: RE: Canada songwriters $10 fee for download
From: GUEST,999
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 06:21 PM

I hear you, BW. And I sympathize with your position. .

Subject: RE: Canada songwriters $10 fee for download
From: bobad
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 06:47 PM

I don't interpret the proposal as forcing everyone to pay the fee, rather that if you wish to download music you buy a license that allows you to do so legally.

Subject: RE: Canada songwriters $10 fee for download
From: gnomad
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 07:18 PM

Wonder whether they are proposing to licence music downloaded from outside their own country, and if so, how they propose to remunerate appropriately. If they intend a domestic-only licence, how are those downloading going to be shielded from the legal reprisals mentioned if imposed by an overseas action?

It sounds like a bright idea, but I'm unsure it can work.

Subject: RE: Canada songwriters $10 fee for download
From: Leadfingers
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 07:50 PM

I can visualise a LOT of complications making something like work without penalising Noin Down Loaders and paeople outsde Canada , wether writers OR users !!

Subject: RE: Canada songwriters $10 fee for download
From: Jack Campin
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 09:29 PM

*Are* there any other Canadian songwriters beside Leonard Cohen and Bruce Cockburn?

Looks like the two of them might do quite well out of this.

Subject: RE: Canada songwriters $10 fee for download
From: Thompson
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 02:37 AM

Can songwriters not do the same as
writers and put their work on Amazon for paid download at a small price that gives them all the dosh?

$10 is too much, in my opinion - don't all jump at once - I don't think people who have been downloading for free will pay it. But if singers and songwriters did what Apple did and started by pricing everything at $1, then crept the prices up for hits, the volume of downloads could make them a very nice living.

It would certainly stick in my throat a lot less to pay, say, 50c a track for an African album - the money going direct to the writers and musicians - than to get it for free by illegal download.

People want to be at one with themselves morally, but they need a little help with that ;)

Subject: RE: Canada songwriters $10 fee for download
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 02:34 PM

I see a big difference between a singer songwriter getting paid royalties for his own creation and that of a big publishing house that slapped a copyright mark on a song that was written 150 years ago. I know that copyright should have expired but claim "arrangement" and threaten to sue anyone who won't pay up! Thay's why it's important to know how SOCAN plans to distribute that 10 bucks!