Tennessee's Bob Corker Calls On Senate Colleagues to Oppose Internet Radio Fairness Act

Corker

Sen. BOB CORKER (R-TN) has circulated a letter among his Senate colleagues calling for them to oppose the Internet Radio Fairness Act, the bill that he says "would impost below-market rates for music creators when compensated by Internet radio companies for the use of their work."

CORKER's letter, posted online by THE HILL, says that while the bill's "stated purpose... is to achieve parity, this bill will interfere with property rights and in effect force American property owners and creators to provide a subsidy to digital radio services, primarily PANDORA.  It is incumbent on digital radio companies to develop and implement a business model that produces the revenue they need, rather than expect government to reduce their costs."

"We all want PANDORA -- and Internet radio -- to succeed and grow.  But it can do so without legislation and without harming the artists it relies on," CORKER adds.  "A consumer-driven marketplace has been a hallmark of innovation on the Internet and the same market forces should decide the value both of competing music delivery services and the music content they deliver."

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