Washington, DC – Future of Music Coalition and Thirsty Ear Recordings are bringing 15 top-notch acts together for the Rock the Net: Musicians for Net Neutrality compilation CD. Wilco, Bright Eyes, They Might Be Giants, Portastatic, Aimee Mann, Guster, Matthew Shipp, Palomar, The Wrens, DJ Spooky, BC Camplight, David Bazan, David Miller, Free Form Funky Freqs and The Classic Brown have all donated tracks to the compilation, which was released by Thirsty Ear Recordings on Tuesday, July 29, 2008.
Net neutrality is important to musicians and fans alike. Many of today’s most talented artists are demonstrating their support of an open Internet where all users can access the lawful content of their choice without undue restrictions.
Future of Music Coalition’s Rock the Net campaign was established in April 2007 to increase musician awareness about the importance of net neutrality. Certain telecommunications and cable companies would like to charge content providers higher fees for faster delivery of their sites. The result would be an Internet where those who couldn’t afford to - or didn’t want to - pay a toll would be stuck in the slow lane. Artists could lose an important connection to their fans and suffer financial loses, while listeners might be denied their freedom of choice.
Founding Rock the Net artists include:
R.E.M.• Pearl Jam • Ted Leo • Boots Riley • Death Cab for Cutie • OK Go • Bob Mould • Calexico • Kathleen Hanna • The Donnas • Jerry Harrison • John Doe • Les Claypool • Kronos Quartet • Jimmy Tamborello • Street to Nowhere • The Locust • Rogue Wave • Guster • State Radio • Matt Wertz • Griffin House • Matt Nathanson • The Wrens
Future of Music Coalition is a national non-profit education, research and advocacy organization that seeks a bright future for creators and listeners. FMC works towards this goal through continuous interaction with its primary constituency — musicians — and in collaboration with other creator/public interest groups. More