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RIAA Tells FCC It Takes XM-Sirius Merger, Well, Seriously

July 9, 2007

Earlier today, the Recording Institute Association of America (RIAA) filed comments with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to tighten requirements for a merger between XM Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio.

Filed on the last day the FCC stipulated for such feeback, the comments expressed an urge on the RIAA's part to  "make clear that its approval of a merger is conditioned upon the continued protection of sound recordings from unlawful infringement."

The RIAA is concerned that each of these companies have technology available to them to give "users the ability to download copyrighted sound recordings to portable devices, effectively transforming a radio-like service into a digital distribution subscription service like Rhapsody or Napster."

The recording industry group also added its fear that a combined company would have greater technology resources at its disposal of the type just described.

RIAA didn't exactly come out and say this, but it seems to me they are also afraid of the increased leverage a combined company could have with mobile device manufacturers and subscription services to form partnerships that could maximize the combined satellite radio network's distribution and marketing clout.

The RIAA added in its comments that such a merger could "seriously threaten the viability of the music industry as a whole.




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