Help save Internet radio!

Blues fans -- and fans of music typically not heard on commercial radio stations -- should be alarmed by a recent decision by the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB).

On March 2, 2007, the CRB, which oversees sound recording royalties paid by Internet radio services, increased royalties for Internet radio stations. According to Jason Fry of the Wall Street Journal, an online radio station would pay .08 cent per song per listener for 2006 (the rates are retroactive), .11 cent in 2007, .14 in 2008, .18 cents in 2009 and .19 cents in 2010.

Currently, under a deal brokered in 2002, small Webcasters are paying artists and record labels 12% of their revenue, but the new rules would do away with that exemption. The new system could increase royalties for Internet radio stations by between 300 and 1200 percent.

So, why does this matter to the blues? Quite simply, these higher fees would bankrupt many Internet radio providers, as the proposed royalties would exceed revenues for most independent net radio providers. Some of these providers feature music typically not heard on regular, over-the-air radio stations, includes blues. The surviving Internet radio stations would be run by larger, commercial interests that are less likely to play diverse styles of music.

This all seems grim, but there is a glimmer of hope. The Internet Radio Equality Act has recently been introduced in both the House (H.R. 2060) and Senate (S. 1353) to save the Internet radio industry.

This bipartisan effort is being led by Rep. Donald Manzullo (R-Ill.) and Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.). Their legislation would set Internet radio royalty rates at 7.5 percent of revenue, the same as those of satellite radio.

If you'd like to support the effort, please consider calling your representatives in Congress and tell them that you support the legislation. You can get more information, including contact information, from SaveNetRadio.org, a coalition of artists, labels, listeners and webcasters in support of Internet Radio.

It's time for a blues road trip

We're introducing a new feature on BluesMusicNow.com called "Scenes from the Road." We're sharing some of the many photos we've taken over the years, ranging from juke joints in Mississippi to blues clubs in Chicago.

Our first photo was taken by Steve Sharp, who is a frequent contributor to our Web site as well as Living Blues and other blues publications. This photo was taken from Chicago's Maxwell Street, described by Steve as a "little bluesy street scene ... I shot back in July of 1995, a summer morning of blues, tacos and beer in a bag."

Follow this link to view the photo.

Ike Turner, Irma Thomas win blues Grammys

At this year's GRAMMY Awards, held at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Ike Turner won best traditional blues album for "Risin' With The Blues" (Zoho Roots). Turner beat out Tab Benoit With Louisiana's Leroux, Dion, James Hunter and Duke Robillard.

Also, Irma Thomas won a Grammy for "After The Rain" (Rounder) for best contemporary blues album. Her competition was the Robert Cray Band, Dr. John & The Lower 911, Keb' Mo' and Susan Tedeschi.

Buddy Guy plans return to studio this summer

Buddy Guy is planning to return to the studio in a few months to record a follow-up to his 2005 Silverstone album, "Bring 'Em In," according to Billboard.com.

"I want to go in the studio now and be more creative than I have been," Guy tells Billboard.com. "I'm asking my record company now, just give me a shot like (Jimi) Hendrix and Eric (Clapton) and stop having too many people trying to teach me in the studio. You don't see a boxer learn how to box when he gets in the ring, so I just really want to go into the studio and have a chance at four or five of my own songs with nobody saying a damn thing to me, except for me and my guitar."

The 70-year-old Guy, who doesn't have a label at this point, said he plans to wait until at least May to record because the cold weather doesn't help his singing. ""I've never had the greatest voice and this kind of weather don't help it. So my recording, we'll probably start putting something together about May, June, July and August when the temperature don't fool with you," Guy said.

PBS History Detectives to investigate historic blues label

The historic blues label, Paramount Records, will be featured on the PBS television show, "History Detectives." The show will air on most PBS stations on Sept. 4. Check your local listings for the broadcast time in your area.

From 1929 to 1932, the studio of Paramount Records was located in the Wisconsin Chair Factory in Grafton, Wisconsin. Some of the blues recorded and pressed by Paramount include big blues legends Skip James, Charley Patton, Son House, Louise Johnson, Ida Cox, King Solomon Hill, Big Bill Broonzy, and Blind Joe Reynolds. to name a few.

The History Detectives will investigate two metal masters that were used to press shellac records in the 1920s and 30s to determine their significance, especially as they relate to Paramount Records.

History Detectives Web site

ParamountHome Web site

Web site offers free downloads from last Johnnie Johnson recording

Fans of the late, great Johnnie Johnson can download three songs, for free, from his last recording, "Johnnie Be Eighty! And Still Bad," from the Cousin Moe Music Web site (www.cousinmoemusic.com.) Recorded about four months before his death on April 13, 2005, the CD features six original songs and can be purchased directly from the site.

Johnson, of course, played piano on many of Chuck Berry's seminal recordings from the early days of rock 'n roll. The free downloads coincide with the June 27 release date of the DVD for the Chuck Berry documentary, "Hail! Hail! Rock and Roll," which also includes performances from Johnson.

The Web site also features a newly posted interview with Johnnie's wife, Frances, held June 19. The free downloads will be available until July 8, Johnson's date of birth.

Pinetop Perkins hospitalized

According to his official Web site, www.pinetopperkins.com, legendary piano man Pinetop Perkins was hospitalized in Austin, Texas on April 10, for internal bleeding caused by a stomach disorder. One day later, he seemed to be doing better, according to the Web site, which said Pinetop was "sitting up playing solitaire and flirting with the nurses."

As of April 12, Pinetop was moved from the ICU into a private room "where he continues to complain about not getting to eat any McDaniels - a sure sign of recovery!" The Web site states that Pinetop is expected to be released within a few days and is expected to resume touring in May.