PLAY FOR PAY

A group of big-name musicians, and, I assume, the major labels who love them, want radio stations to start paying to air their music.

Check this out:

Setting the stage for a new battle between radio broadcasters and the music industry, a group of recording artists have formed a coalition called musicFIRST to seek cash payments from local radio stations for the airplay of music broadcast over the air. Among the members seeking new performance royalties are Christina Aguilera, Jimmy Buffett, Celine Dion, Toby Keith, John Legend and Jennifer Lopez. The group plans to introduce its legislative plans Thursday.

Currently, broadcasters pay songwriter royalites to ASCAP, BMI and SESAC, but not performance royalties. Broadcasters are required to pay performance royalties for music streamed over the Internet.

I believe this request should be honored.

Therefore, I hereby pledge to never play any songs by Christina Aguilera, Jimmy Buffett, Celine Dion, Toby Keith, John Legend or Jennifer Lopez on any of my shows. I hope other radio folk do the same.

Seriously, I hate to side with the National Association of Broadcasters on anything. But where would these "artists" be if radio didn't play their stupid music a jillion times a week?