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AT&T + T-Mobile Merger: a Bum Note for Musicians?

You may have heard about the proposed merger between AT&T and T-Mobile, which would give the combined companies a 43 percent combined share of the mobile market. Were the deal to go through, AT&T and Verizon would control around 70 percent of the market for cell phone subscriptions. That’s a lot of power in not so many hands.

This merger is not just about phone service. Mobile handsets are fast becoming one of the main ways people connect to the internet, and this trend is only going to continue.

So why should musicians and music entrepreneurs care? Lots of reasons, actually. read more

Future of Music Coalition Strongly Opposes House Efforts to Repeal Open Internet Order

April 6, 2011

Future of Music Coalition (FMC), a national non-profit research, education and advocacy organization for musicians, strongly opposes a resolution set for a vote in the House of Representatives that would eliminate the FCC’s ability to preserve the internet as an open marketplace for creativity and commerce. read more

The Decemberists Send Letter to Congress in Support of Access and Innovation for Creators

March 9, 2011

Washington, D.C.— Billboard chart-topping band the Decemberists today sent a letter to Oregon members of Congress in support of public radio and open internet access. The Portland, Oregon band has sold more than 1.25 million records worldwide, in part due to their ability to reach fans via the internet and non-commercial radio.

The text of the letter is below; a PDF copy can be downloaded here.

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Dear members of the Oregon Congressional delegation: read more

The Decemberists Send Letter to Congress in Support of Access and Innovation for Creators

On March 9, 2011, Billboard chart-topping band the Decemberists sent a letter to Oregon members of Congress in support of public radio and open internet access. The Portland, Oregon band has sold more than 1.25 million records worldwide, in part due to their ability to reach fans via the internet and non-commercial radio.

Dear members of the Oregon Congressional delegation:

We are writing to you as members of the Decemberists, and also as proud citizens of Oregon. We wanted to inform you, as representatives for our state, about a couple of issues of utmost importance to a segment of your constituency: musicians and other contributors to Oregon’s creative economy. In order to continue doing what we do, our community requires access to the internet and a supportive broadcast media. We are concerned with recent Congressional activity around these crucial platforms, and urge you to consider the impact of your decisions on the creative sector.

The Internet on the Hill: Hearings, Hearings, Hearings!

[This piece was co-authored by FMC Policy Counsel Chris Naoum]

This week, the new Congressional House majority took aim at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and its recently-issued rules to preserve the internet we all know and love.

A refresher: Back in December 2010, the FCC voted to adopt its Open Internet Order, which takes important steps towards keeping the internet accessible to everyone, including musicians. The Order set forth basic rules to prevent Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from picking winners and losers online and interfering with access to legal content, sites and services. read more

FMC, Musicians and Arts Service Organizations Urge Congress to Uphold FCC Internet Order

February 15, 2011

Washington, D.C.— On Wednesday, February 16, the Congressional Subcommittee on Communications and Technology will hold a hearing on the FCC’s recent Open Internet Order, and whether to invalidate rules to preserve access and innovation online through a little-used procedural maneuver.

In anticipation of these events, Future of Music Coalition (FMC) — a national nonprofit research, education and advocacy organization for musicians — has joined individual artists and arts service organizations in urging Congress not to undermine essential protections for creative entrepreneurs on the internet. read more

Letter to Congress in Support of FCC Open Internet Order

On February 14, 2011, Future of Music Coaition, the National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture and Fractured Atlas sent the following letter to Congressional House leadership, urging them not to broadly repudiate the FCC’s Open Internet Order.

Dear Representatives,

Since its inception, the internet has represented a powerful tool for the exchange of information and ideas. In recent years, it has also contributed greatly to the emergence of novel platforms for the dissemination of creative content. It is as members of the arts community who have come to depend on these structures that we write to you today. read more

The Internet's Holiday Wish

You’ve probably used the internet several times this holiday season to find that perfect gift for that certain someone on your list. Actually, Santa Claus himself is probably on Etsy right now looking for a handmade nose warmer for Rudolph.

But what does the internet want at this, the most wonderful time of the year?

Let’s start with clear and enforceable rules tor preserve the web as a platform for creativity, commerce and free expression. read more

FMC Statement on FCC Announcement of Open Internet Order

December 1, 2010

WASHINGTON, DC—Today (December 1, 2010), FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced an agenda for a December 21, 2010 meeting in which the commission will consider an “Open Internet Order” to preserve the internet as an engine for innovation, entrepreneurship and free expression.

The following statement is attributed to Casey Rae-Hunter, Communications Director and Policy Strategist for Future of Music Coalition (FMC), a national non-profit research, education and advocacy organization for musicians that supports the open internet via its artist-driven Rock the Net campaign. read more

Erin McKeown Rocks the Net in Chicago!

We’re super-psyched that one of our favorite musicians, multi-instrumentalist/singer-songwriter Erin McKeown is taking her support of the open itnernet on the road! One show in the Windy City (also known as Chicago) promises to be particularly exciting.

Erin is currently touring to commemorate the10th anniversary of her debut, Distillation, and has chosen Chicago as the location for a live webcast from Lincoln Hall on October 20 at 9 p.m. EST. Get your virtual tickets right here. read more

AT&T + T-Mobile Merger: a Bum Note for Musicians?

Future of Music Coalition Strongly Opposes House Efforts to Repeal Open Internet Order

The Decemberists Send Letter to Congress in Support of Access and Innovation for Creators

The Decemberists Send Letter to Congress in Support of Access and Innovation for Creators

The Internet on the Hill: Hearings, Hearings, Hearings!

FMC, Musicians and Arts Service Organizations Urge Congress to Uphold FCC Internet Order

Letter to Congress in Support of FCC Open Internet Order

The Internet's Holiday Wish

FMC Statement on FCC Announcement of Open Internet Order

Erin McKeown Rocks the Net in Chicago!

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