Canadian Songwriters Propose $10/mo Internet Fee 407
BitterOak points out this Windsor Star story, according to which "Canadian songwriters are proposing a $10 fee to be added to monthly ISP bills, giving users a license to download music using peer-to-peer file sharing technologies for free, without fear of reprisal. The money collected would be distributed to members of a Canadian association of songwriters (SOCAN). The story doesn't make clear whether the license would apply only to Canadian music, or how musicians in other nations would be compensated otherwise."
Re:No. (Score:4, Informative)
It appears to be opt-in. So if you don't want to have a 'license to download', you don't pay.
It doesn't seem like a terrible idea, though I'd need to see a few more details.
Re:Intl. Distribution (Score:4, Informative)
Good luck with that.
My brother is a full-time professional musician. He has been on at least seven albums that I can think of, one of which was nominated for a Juno. He has received *exactly* nothing from the tarrif on blank media. Nothing. Nada.
Celine Dione, one of Canada's top-selling artists, made a comment once about how she never saw enough money from the tariffs to make any difference in her income.
This will be the same, if it goes through. A cash-grab by the industry that goes to middle-managers, never artists.