Americans are freedom loving people, and nothing says freedom like getting away with it.

From Long, Long Time by Guy Forsyth

If you read nothing else this weekend, read former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich’s New York Times op-ed “Big Tech has Become Way Too Powerful.”  (Which was evidently originally posted under the title “Big Tech has Become Way Too Powerful, Ask Google” judging by the title in the link (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/20/opinion/is-big-tech-too-powerful-ask-google.html)–I wonder who made that change.)

Secretary Reich makes the point that Google, in particular, has an unprecedented stranglehold on the U.S. Government:

In 2012, the staff of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition submitted to the commissioners a 160-page analysis of Google’s dominance in the search and related advertising markets, and recommended suing Google for conduct that “has resulted — and will result — in real harm to consumers and to innovation.” But the commissioners chose…

A conference has to make a buck, you know?  We all understand that, and the Americana Music Conference is no exception.  The conference that is attached to the Americana Music Awards is a stalwart in our business and has managed to maintain its true authenticity for a very long time.  We appreciate the sponsors who line up to support the show and the conference–it’s a great group.  For the most part.

How anyone thought that it was a good idea to include Pandora in the mix of sponsors is a bit beyond me.  Pandora is getting sued in the Turtles class action because they don’t pay to play artists who happened to record before 1972.  That list includes a huge number of Americana, bluegrass, roots and country music artists.  So how the Americana Music Conference could allow these people in the door is beyond me.  Well, if they’re…

If you live in Austin, the ATX Music Office and Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts are hosting a workshop to help you “Get Your Money!”  This workshop is focusing on SoundExchange and the union IP funds.  Both SoundExchange and the AFM/SAG-AFTRA IP Rights Distribution Fund make a big effort to encourage artists and musicians to sign up and claim money that each organization may already be holding for creatives.

REGISTER AT EVENTBRITE ADMISSION IS FREE!

The workshop is the first of a series co-sponsored by ATX Music, Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts and Capitol View Arts.

This is a “how to” event led by Don Pitts of the ATX Music Office, Sean Glover of SoundExchange and TALA volunteer attorney Chris Castle to help Austin artists sign up for SoundExchange and the union IP funds.  The idea for the workshop grew out of the ATX Music…

[Editor Charlie sez: Hot on the heels of the Steven Johnson debacle in the New York Times, we find out that our friend Janita was approached by Forbes to do an interview about the #irespectmusic campaign–an offer that was quickly withdrawn once Forbes found out what she had to say.  So naturally…here it is.]

Guest Post by Janita

I have great respect for journalists, and I respect Forbes magazine. As a newly-minted American citizen myself, I’ve gained a deep love and understanding for the inherent––in fact unique––importance reporters have in U.S. society. So, I was excited and honored when told I’d been “confirmed to be the subject of a major Q&A with Forbes.com,” specifically about my involvement in the #IRespectMusic campaign.

I was sent five thought provoking questions from the writer at Forbes, and I answered them as authentically and truthfully as I could. I sent the completed written interview back.