Washington, D.C.– The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) officially endorsed the Rock the Net campaign Tuesday bringing a powerful new voice to the fight for net neutrality. A2IM epresents the independent music community on legislative, economic and legal issues. Music on independent labels makes up more than 30 percent of the music industry’s market share. A2IM has more than 200 members including Lookout Records, Tommy Boy Records and the Concord Music Group.

Washington, D.C.– The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) officially endorsed the Rock the Net campaign Tuesday bringing a powerful new voice to the fight for net neutrality.

A2IM represents the independent music community on legislative, economic and legal issues. Music on independent labels makes up more than 30 percent of the music industry’s market share. A2IM has more than 200 members including Lookout Records, Tommy Boy Records and the Concord Music Group.

Rock the Net is a new coalition of musicians, labels and music fans that support net neutrality. The campaign is off to a fast start with 360 bands and 105 labels signing on since the campaign began just three weeks ago. Members include R.E.M., Pearl Jam, Sarah McLachlan, Kronos Quartet, Boots Riley of The Coup, Death Cab for Cutie, Ted Leo and many more.

Net neutrality is the idea that all web content is created equal. Some major telecoms want to charge web content providers to have their web sites download faster. Those that can’t afford the fees – potentially small record labels and independent music download sites –might be relegated to second-class Internet service.

In a statement released Monday, A2IM called on its members to join Rock the Net.

“A tiered web which discriminates against consumers is a step in the wrong direction. To that end, A2IM calls on its members, and all those who recognize the potential dangers of charging for having their websites load faster, to join the campaign and sign the petition to promote the principle of network neutrality.”

Rock the Net thanks A2IM for the support and asks all musicians and music labels to join the campaign. Rock the Net is a project of the Future of Music Coalition, Zeitgeist Artists Management and Noise Pop.

A full copy of A2IM’s statement is attached below.

A2IM STATEMENT ON NETWORK NEUTRALITY

A2IM applauds and supports the recent ‘Rock the Net’ campaign by the ‘Future of Music Coalition’ advocacy group to safeguard net neutrality.

Equal and open access to the Internet will be crucial for fueling creative growth and innovation, as well as encouraging diversity, given the future of the music sector is increasingly digital. Accordingly, A2IM rejects the use of market power to discriminate against competing applications or content.  

Open access, the principle upon which the Internet was initially founded, will better serve the prospects of the Independent sector in comparison to traditional terrestrial (radio) services, where performance royalties are currently not paid to artists or labels. Presently, the strong demand for Independent music is not being adequately provided through terrestrial radio - meaning consumers now have to go to non-terrestrial services to get the music they want.* But importantly, a key difference is that all the music used on non-terrestrial services is actually paid for, with the artists and record labels being compensated appropriately for their performance rights. 

A tiered web which discriminates against consumers is a step in the wrong direction. To that end, A2IM calls on its members, and all those who recognize the potential dangers of charging for having their websites load faster, to join the campaign and sign the petition to promote the principle of network neutrality.

* Approximately 10% of terrestrial radio play is Independent music; but in 2006 Independents comprised 37% of non-terrestrial music played according to SoundExchange. Non-terrestrial services includes: non-interactive webcasters, satellite radio services, and digital cable and satellite services.