Appeals Court Upholds 24-Cent Ringtone Royalty for Songwriters

A federal appeals court last week upheld the Copyright Royalty Board's rate of 24 cents for songwriters on mobile phone ringtones, Law.com reported.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) had argued that songwriters should get a smaller slice of the pie - 15% of the wholesale revenue from ringtones, or 18 cents per ringtone sold.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit also upheld the Copyright Royalty Board's new late fees on overdue royalty payments.

Indie On The Move: A great website for those who book their own shows

Indie On The Move, a great website if you're trying to book shows in the US:

http://www.indieonthemove.com/

Indie On The Move's goal is to provide the most comprehensive and reliable music venue database on the web, by fostering a collaborative environment in which artists, fans, agents, labels, venues, and promoters post, rate, and review clubs from all across the U.S. for free

The worst selling summer concert season

What the hell is going on with live music? Lilith Fair, Christina Aguilera, Limp Bizkit, Eagles, Rihanna .. they all had to cancel shows due to "soft" sales; booking agencies are not taking on any new acts, venues are on the verge of closing down and can't afford to book a band that doesn't guarantee a large following - unless they are willing and able to pay to play ... and this is not just happening in the US but in Europe as well.

Why is it so hard to get people out of the house to see a live show? Too much physical contact? Are we at a point where we can only handle virtual entertainment? Or are shows simply too expensive? When I go out to see a band at the Viper Room, even if I am on the guest list, I still end up spending 20 to 30 dollars on parking and a drink. Not to talk about festivals, where you easily spent that amount on parking alone and then 12 bucks for one lousy beer...