In Spain, the SGAE charges hairdressing salons for having the radio on, and they charge radio stations for broadcasting the same content. They use a flat fee that disregards whether the material broadcast is part of its repertory or not. They charge for everything, twice over.
Musicians feel that if a middleman started to sell their songs they would loose the freedom to distribute their own work.
People often think that Creative Commons licenses equal giving your work away… In reality, the system allows contracts to be signed and music to be sold under legal protection and validity.
The idea of charging to be heard does not always translate into more earnings. Though it probably means less listeners, and, as the poet says, if you don’t make it into the top ten, at least you can make it onto the “top manta” favourites sold illegally on the streets.
The grateful hairdressers’ have decided to give something in return…
