I don't know if this has been discussed before, but I've been reading about royality fees for Sirius XM radio subs. As Dish Network subs with Sirius XM music access, is there going to be a point where we are going to be forced to pay royality fees?
Sirius XM Music Royality Fees for Dish Subs
- Thread starter The Fat Man
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Replies 25
- Views 4K
I'm more unsure as to when Dish's contract with Sirius XM expires. Then we would definately know.
Siriusxm royalty fees are bs. It was just a loophole for Mel to go up on the service price without officially violating the merger terms.
It's not b.s. it's a legit fee. In fact terrestrial radio stations are fighting not having to pay it too. Previously they were exempt.
But terrestrial radio can't pass the fee on to subscribers. All those folks who shelled out $500 for lifetime service are now getting billed about $50 a year to pay for music. What was the $500 for? And there was no merger when it comes to the customer. If you had either company, you have to pay extra to get the other's content. As a merger condition, they couldn't raise rates, so instead they drum up new charges. I cancelled my service because of this, and they called to see if I'd deactivate for $4 a month. I asked about the royalty charge, and I was told "by law" they would have to charge for it. I said no thanks. I hope Charlie tells them to beat it.
Yes it IS a BS fee. Sirius and XM was paying the fee upfront long before the merger. When we subscribed originally it was built into our cost. Show me where I'm wrong..... I deactivated three subscriptions based on this...
An interesting thread.
No, terrestrial doesn't pass it on to the consumer directly. We would have to pass it on to the ADVERTISER who then passes our fee on to their customer, the consumer. NOBODY wins.
I'm an "over the air" (terrestrial) broadcaster. Like us, XM and Sirius play music, and they already pay the publishers via BMI, ASCAP and SESAC. What's at risk with what is known as the "performance tax" or "peformance rights act" is broadcasters "performing it" for the public. Now here's the thing: If the music industry as a whole (record companies/artists via companies) are asking to be paid, then they ARE, by their own asking to be paid.... a sellable, marketable commodity. But then, so is a washer, dryer, or a dinner out that vendors pay US to advertise via commercials. Thus, music is a product, and radio has always given the music industry basically free advertising, as is XM and Sirius....just by playing the music.
Now, here's the SCARY part. Who is next in line to be targeted? TV is already on the list for music in their shows. The music industry has said so. How about the theatre? Certainly producers and movie companies pay to use music IN the movie, but what about those who go to SEE the movie? Will we start seeing a music performance surcharge at the theatre because the THEATRE is making money playing the movie which contains the music? How about at your favorite restaurant that already has satellite radio services (commercial-like muzak used to be) that they pay-for? will there be a "music surcharge" at dinner because music is performed for those eating dinner? Its a dangerous idea, and basically a bailout for an industry that is crying because they didn't change with the technological times.
What's next? A tax on the amount of toilet paper you use in your business? A per-petal tax for florists? Sounds far fetched, but....it draws a picture of a future where nobody wins.
No, terrestrial doesn't pass it on to the consumer directly. We would have to pass it on to the ADVERTISER who then passes our fee on to their customer, the consumer. NOBODY wins.
I'm an "over the air" (terrestrial) broadcaster. Like us, XM and Sirius play music, and they already pay the publishers via BMI, ASCAP and SESAC. What's at risk with what is known as the "performance tax" or "peformance rights act" is broadcasters "performing it" for the public. Now here's the thing: If the music industry as a whole (record companies/artists via companies) are asking to be paid, then they ARE, by their own asking to be paid.... a sellable, marketable commodity. But then, so is a washer, dryer, or a dinner out that vendors pay US to advertise via commercials. Thus, music is a product, and radio has always given the music industry basically free advertising, as is XM and Sirius....just by playing the music.
Now, here's the SCARY part. Who is next in line to be targeted? TV is already on the list for music in their shows. The music industry has said so. How about the theatre? Certainly producers and movie companies pay to use music IN the movie, but what about those who go to SEE the movie? Will we start seeing a music performance surcharge at the theatre because the THEATRE is making money playing the movie which contains the music? How about at your favorite restaurant that already has satellite radio services (commercial-like muzak used to be) that they pay-for? will there be a "music surcharge" at dinner because music is performed for those eating dinner? Its a dangerous idea, and basically a bailout for an industry that is crying because they didn't change with the technological times.
What's next? A tax on the amount of toilet paper you use in your business? A per-petal tax for florists? Sounds far fetched, but....it draws a picture of a future where nobody wins.
Very insightful, and many good points. But the reality is, if artists don't get paid, the music will die. It's not a bailout for failure to keep up with technology. It's trying to regain control of their product which was pirated for years (napster, file sharing, etc.). It nearly killed the music industry and is killing print media as we speak. The truth is technology has made it easier to steal the works of artists, works of value.
To compare artists charging royalties for their work to taxes doesn't make any sense at all.
I personally think it's a BS fee, I cancelled my sirius/XM sub because of this, I only re-subbed when they kept sending me offers, to come back.
Problem is I rarely listen to music on Sat radio, more for sports play by play and talk plus Playboy radio Tiffany Grannath show. So why should I play a music royalty fee, most music on sat radio sux, it's always same songs same artists. I can play either FM, or have music on USB stick, or bluetooth with my smartphone, not too mention CD/DVD's also.
Now another thing getting back on track is I do not listen to Sat Radio on Dish, they should be able to desub those channels from your receiver if you dont want them and pay zero for music royalty fee.
Problem is I rarely listen to music on Sat radio, more for sports play by play and talk plus Playboy radio Tiffany Grannath show. So why should I play a music royalty fee, most music on sat radio sux, it's always same songs same artists. I can play either FM, or have music on USB stick, or bluetooth with my smartphone, not too mention CD/DVD's also.
Now another thing getting back on track is I do not listen to Sat Radio on Dish, they should be able to desub those channels from your receiver if you dont want them and pay zero for music royalty fee.
How 'bout this then... Sirius bs'd about the fee. I agree with Bobby here. The fact that Sirius sent me an email explaining all about this 'new' fee was total bs. I contacted my local CMRRA and Socan offices by email and their reply's explained things VERY clearly. I have NO issue with artists being paid fairly for their work. I have a MAJOR issue with a company bsing it's subscriber's with falsehoods. I too cancelled my sirius sub when it came up for renewal, directly because of this attempted deception. The free offers and free preview that is currently on remind me how much I dislike the sound quality on the sirius radio as well. Sounds great on my top 250 pkg though... pretty sad...
Last edited:
$1.98 a month for the first radio and $.97 a month for any others on your account. On my past account I would pay 47.04 a year for my 3 radios. Mind you Sirius/XM paid royalty fees all along as part of the service before deciding that they could raise their rates in this sneaky way.
http://www.xmradio.com/about/musicroyalty.xmc
