RIAA is at it again

sactoking

Diamond Member
Sep 24, 2007
7,612
2,861
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http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/riaa_wants_radios_in_portable_electronics/

The RIAA is proposing that Congress force handheld electronics makers to include FM radio recievers in their products as part of a plan to give consumers more choices when listening to music. The proposal, according to Ars Technica, would require all cell phones sold in the U.S., including the iPhone, include a built-in FM radio regardless of whether or not manufacturers or consumers were interested in having them in their portable electronic devices.

While record labels, radio broadcasters and the National Association of Broadcasters are on board with the idea, the Consumer Electronics Association thinks the proposal is a bad idea and said that it isn’t “in our national interest.”

musicFIRST, which includes the RIAA as a member, sees the forced inclusion of FM receiver chips in electronic devices as an important move for the broadcast radio industry. “musicFIRST, too, likes FM chips in cell phones, PDAs, etc. It gives consumers access to more music choices,” the group said.

Dennis Wharton from the NAB added “We would argue that having radio capability on cell phones and other mobile devices would be a great thing, particularly from a public safety perspective.”

Gary Shapiro, CEA president, sees mandated radio receivers differently. “The backroom scheme of the [National Association of Broadcasters] and RIAA to have Congress mandate broadcast radios in portable devices, including mobile phones, is the height of absurdity,” he said.

I'm sure this has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with artificially inflating penetration numbers AT ALL. Broadcasters have a vested interest in increasing their penetration numbers, legitimately or through bogus means, so they can charge more for advertising. The RIAA has a vested interest in maintaining control and credibility in a world where their business model is failing and they stand to lose artists.
 

Demon-Xanth

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
20,551
2
81
I read about that this morning, I'm convinced that the MPAA and RIAA honestly believe they are somehow the guiding force behind all that is right in this world and that the consumer is nothing more than an ATM.
 

gimmewhitecastles

Golden Member
Mar 2, 2005
1,834
0
0
Dennis Wharton from the NAB added “We would argue that having radio capability on cell phones and other mobile devices would be a great thing, particularly from a public safety perspective.”

I wish they would elaborate on this but apparently they omitted that part to prevent their proposal from looking even more ridiculous.
 
Nov 7, 2000
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they can screw around with helpless consumers all they want, but they are gonna get bitchslapped by the big corps lawyers and lobbies
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,916
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I wouldn't mind an HD Radio receiver. That would actually be really cool.

Then they can sue us when we rip digital broadcasts on our phones.
 
Mar 11, 2004
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I wish they would elaborate on this but apparently they omitted that part to prevent their proposal from looking even more ridiculous.

Of course. When you know your argument is weak, just make a half-assed attempt at connecting it with safety somehow and you'll convince politicians that its a good idea.
 

FelixDeCat

Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
30,077
2,451
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You want to know the best part? Do you REALLY want to know the best part?! The best part is RIAA will then be ask Congress to demand that all handset makers also pay them royalties. They will find a crafty argument if there is enough money in it.

Stupid lawyers.
 

skace

Lifer
Jan 23, 2001
14,488
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Uhh, nobody wants music over regular FM, it sounds like shit. Get your ears checked RIAA.
 

Regs

Lifer
Aug 9, 2002
16,665
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Would have to side with skace here...lol.

Forcing manufacturers to put money into something a customer does not want is not exactly a good business practice let alone economical. Maybe the feds should turn back at them and tell them to stop charging so much to have the radio play music on the air?
 

Rubycon

Madame President
Aug 10, 2005
17,768
485
126
Give me AM so that a realtime lightning app could be developed for the iphone LOL.
 

dpodblood

Diamond Member
May 20, 2010
4,020
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Would have to side with skace here...lol.

Forcing manufacturers to put money into something a customer does not want is not exactly a good business practice let alone economical. Maybe the feds should turn back at them and tell them to stop charging so much to have the radio play music on the air?

I don't even understand *how* they can force a manufacturer to put something into their product.
 

kami333

Diamond Member
Dec 12, 2001
5,110
2
76
My last couple cell phones have had FM radio in them but I've never used it (and since I don't even have a wired headset I wouldn't be able to use it anyways).
 

amddude

Golden Member
Mar 9, 2006
1,711
1
81
PUBLIC SAFETY! HA! Maybe we can get the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to take a crack at legislating this for us.
 
Mar 11, 2004
23,416
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Uhh, nobody wants music over regular FM, it sounds like shit. Get your ears checked RIAA.

Well, duh, that's why they want to use this so they can then push HD radio and claim they care about quality. Next, they'll try to make the government force the wireless carriers to provide the bandwidth to stream radio. They'll say that its needed so that people will be informed about Amber Alerts.
 

darkxshade

Lifer
Mar 31, 2001
13,749
6
81
At this point, I'm convinced they're just purposely making ridiculous demands just on the offshoot chance something goes through and then we're all screwed.
 

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
78,712
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tbqhwy.com
im pretty sure it was on ars where i was reading the comments about already being able to get FM radio through aps

I Heart Radio is clear channels AP for it, which works fine. i know some people at work that use it to get some talk shows they like on their phones
 

Juddog

Diamond Member
Dec 11, 2006
7,851
6
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At this point, I'm convinced they're just purposely making ridiculous demands just on the offshoot chance something goes through and then we're all screwed.

We're already screwed, and they already have slipped in bullsh!t laws a few years ago.

I just can't believe the politicians keep voting this crap into law.
 

preslove

Lifer
Sep 10, 2003
16,754
63
91
With Pandora on my phone and a aux in to my car stereo, I never have to listen to shitty over-the-air radio ever again.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
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I don't even understand *how* they can force a manufacturer to put something into their product.

Ask an auto manufacturer.

PUBLIC SAFETY! HA! Maybe we can get the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to take a crack at legislating this for us.

It actually WOULD be a genuinely great public safety tool, but obviously that's not why the RIAA wants it. If the emergency alert system could remotely turn on your cell phone's FM radio and broadcast a message, that would really help disseminate information in an emergency. People always have their phones with them and turned on.

im pretty sure it was on ars where i was reading the comments about already being able to get FM radio through aps

I Heart Radio is clear channels AP for it, which works fine. i know some people at work that use it to get some talk shows they like on their phones

Aside from being a horribly inefficient way to deliver radio content to a large number of people, that doesn't come close to accomplishing the same thing.
 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
98,021
16,760
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someone should let RIAA know all the Chinese mp4 players and knock off phones have FM receivers :p