Crib Notes

UPDATE: George Clinton, Dionne Farris, Rhymefest and more to speak out on Performance Rights Act H.R. 848 today (1-3 p.m. Mon, June 22) in Atlanta.

Tony MF Rock (Anthony Durham) and contemporary MC Shy D pioneered Atlanta hip-hop in the ’80s via releases on Luther Campbell’s Luke Skyyywalker Records. Durham went on to play bass for the Atlanta rap-rock group El Pus and collaborate with Anthony David.

In this “open letter,” Tony Rock discusses the response of black-owned radio stations to the pay to play Performance Rights Act:

Lately black radio has been on a jihad, so to speak against bill HR 848. They’re distorting it as a bill to “get rid of black radio”, and sadly, most of their audience will not take to time to research it and find out what it actually is. Black radio, knowing that they have done the black community a disservice for the most part, has decided to fall back on the “brotherhood” crutch. Unfortunately, and predictably, black radio has made HR 848 an “us (black) vs. them (white)” issue, even going as far as to tell their listeners to call Senators and Congressmen and threaten their seats. I promise you, those that make those calls, will make damned fools out of themselves, but I digress. In a nutshell, HR 848 is simply a bill that will allow artists that perform on the records that are being played, to receive a royalty payment.

So, since people like Warren Ballentine, Michael Baisden, and others in black radio have decided to go with this “bill to get rid of black radio” nonsense, let’s play along, shall we? Black radio is “reaching out” to the same community that they have done a disservice to over the past 2 decades for help. They want us to save them. Why should we? Black radio, in its essence, was a medium to truly serve the community. Nowadays, not so much. You want us to save something that constantly bombards our children with music that denigrates women and living lawfully? Black radio was a place where talented local artists could be heard. The only local artists that get played in Atlanta are the ones who are making crap. It’s like the artists are trying to outdumb each other. Atlanta was the VERY last market to play India.Arie, and she’s from here, but unfortunately for her, her music was positive. There’s no room for that on black radio here in Atlanta!! Black radio in Atlanta doesn’t support local artists, unless they’re making music that makes the community look bad, or if they’ve gone elsewhere to achieve notoriety first. (more…)

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Just found out about an open discussion scheduled to take place today in Decatur from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the proposed Performance Rights Act (H.R. 848). Featured round table panelists will include artists George Clinton, Dionne Farris, Rhymefest and Peter Stroud.

The act, which would require radio stations to pay performance royalties to recording artists, has sparked quite a bit of controversy.

Last week we posted An open letter to black radio from Tony MF Rock in which the Atlanta hip-hop pioneer voiced his concern over how certain black radio commentators have been framing the proposed legislation as an attack on black-owned radio stations. And today, EbonyJet.com has posted a similar critique from Paul Porter:

Unfortunately, Black radio is swiftly becoming part of the problem, not the solution. It began, of course, with black-owned stations losing their independent voices and turning into sterile corporate jukeboxes limiting both information and community access, while feeding us music that reinforced the same stereotypes that for decades radio helped to defeat.

Now the few surviving Black-owned radio stations are abusing their unique influence in the community to misinform listeners about the impact of a new Congressional bill designed to support the kind of independent, creative and positive musical artists we all have demanding.

Cathy Hughes, Founder of Radio One, as one example, has been leading the charge against HR 848, an act of legislation that Hughes charges will “end black radio.” Nothing could be further from the truth.

Today’s town hall meeting, hosted by the Atlanta chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, will feature “updates” from congressmen Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) and John Conyers (D-Mich.). According to the flier, the RSVP deadline was Friday. I attempted to contact the Atlanta NARAS office this morning, but got no response.

I’m not sure if it’s open to the general public, but I suggest people interested in voicing their opinion (or in listening) should show up anyway. Worst-case scenario, you’ll get turned away at the door. But an influx of people could speak volumes, too.

I plan to attend and report back via Twitter updates and an eventual blog post. Tony MF Rock says, via email, that he plans to attend too.

musicFIRST® Town Hall Atlanta — an open discussion about the Performance Rights Act, H.R. 848. Featuring George Clinton, Dionne Farris, Rhymefest, Peter Stroud. 1-3 p.m. TODAY. Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center, 3181 Rainbow Dr. Decatur, Ga. 30034. NARAS Atlanta phone # 404-816-1380.

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