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Warner Music Pushes For ISP Driven Music Licenses
By Bruce Houghton
Expert Author
Article Date: 2008-12-12
Warner Music Group's Jim Griffen, who has been a vocal proponent of blanket music licensing at the ISP level, is out pitching the idea to some of America's top universities.
Warner Music Group's Jim Griffen, who has been a vocal proponent of blanket music licensing at the ISP level, is out pitching the idea to some of America's top universities. Columbia, Stanford, University of Chicago, University of Washington, MIT, University of Colorado, University of Michigan, Cornell, Penn State, University of California at Berkeley and University of Virginia have expressed interest and talks are under way according to TechDirt who also dubbed the plan "pay-us-not-to-sue".
Here's the basic slide presentation that has been used with the schools:
UPDATE:Last week I wrote about Warner Music Group's efforts to convince colleges to license music for their students at the ISP level. There's even a copy of a slide show being passed around. But now WMG is trying to distance itself from the intiative...kind of...
 "This presentation belongs to someone outside our company and represents that individual's interpretation of issues discussed at meetings held several months ago. Of course, we are actively engaged with universities and other parties to seek a constructive resolution to a complex issue - how to assure artists appropriate compensation while enabling the widespread dissemination of their work among fans."
My translation: "We like the idea, but we're letting somebody else test the waters." This feels a bit too much like the kind of tentativeness that helped get the music industry in this mess in the first place. Only bolder efforts - like the ISP licensing that WMG digital guru Jim Griffen has often advocated for - will be required to get out of it. Don't be tentative, WMG. Be bold.
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About the Author:
Bruce Houghton is a 25 year music industry veteran who owns booking agency Skyline Music and the tour marketing company Skyline Innovations. http://www.hypebot.com
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