Any XM subscribers get this letter as of yet, as the article suggested?
Charles LaRocca
SiriusBuzz Founder
im xm, and no emails..that article is regurgitating the same thing that was discussed as the "insider email to employees" and they quote orbitcast which is not official either
I will be canceling when I get home.
akh
Subj: Important Information About Your XM Account
Dear Sucker, ( I replaced my name w/ something appropriate)
Thank you for being an XM subscriber. We are dedicated to providing our subscribers with the best programming and listener experience available on radio today. As part of this commitment, we have an important update regarding your XM subscription.
Music royalty rights were established by the U.S. Congress as part of the Copyright Act. This Act requires payment of copyright music royalties to recording artists, musicians and recording companies who hold copyrights in sound recordings.
These royalties have recently increased dramatically, principally as a result of a decision made by the Copyright Royalty Board, which is designated by the Library of Congress to set royalty rates for sound recordings. Beginning on July 29, 2009, a “U.S. Music Royalty Fee” of $1.98/month* for primary subscriptions and $.97/month* for multi-receiver subscriptions will be effective upon your next renewal. This fee will be used directly to offset increased payments from XM to the recording industry.
Unfortunately, we cannot control the Copyright Royalty Board's rate increase, but we can offer you ways to save on your subscription. The longer your subscription, the more you save!
Sign up for a year or more today and save!
Subscription savings per radio
Call 877-837-6999
Thank you for being a loyal XM listener and we hope you continue to enjoy the unparalleled listening experience XM provides.
Joe Zarella
Chief Service Officer
SIRIUS XM Radio
P.S. Questions about the U.S. Music Royalty Fee? Please visit xmradio.com/usmusicroyalty for additional information.
Last edited by Sirius Roadkill; 06-16-2009 at 07:08 PM.
This url makes it official IMHO
http://www.xmradio.com/about/musicroyalty.xmc
Charles LaRocca
SiriusBuzz Founder
well at least they are making the first year of the merger the worst possible so far...dang..just get all the bs out at once...and hopefully move on..
that link works, but how do you get there from the xm homepage?
I received my letter a few weeks ago like most Sirius subscribers. I was not shocked, because I already heard of the rumors that this would happen, but surely disappointed.
HOWEVER, after reading an article on USA Today this morning, Im a little confused. Here is a snippet from the article:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/20...et-radio_N.htm
Can someone who knows more about the new copyright royalty act explain to me why Sirius XM does not get the same treatment that traditional AM and FM broadcasters are getting? If they are exempt, then why isnt satellite radio? Its still airplay. Its still promotion, only we're already covering much of the cost. Now we have to pay more? Why dont only those with the Sirius XM internet radio included (which is me) have to pay the royalty fee?Traditional AM and FM broadcasters are exempt from copyright royalty rates for over-the-air radio play, because that airplay is thought to provide free promotion for artists and labels. But the broadcasters are subject to the new rates for any songs streamed over radio station websites.