R.E.M.

Reconstruction of the Steeple: Athens Musicians Come Together to support a Local Music Landmark

by Sam Redd, Communications Intern

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Athens, Georgia had been listed by Rolling Stone alongside Graceland, the Ryman Auditorium, and Sun Studios as one of the South’s musical treasures. The band now internationally known as R.E.M. played their very first concert inside the building on April 5, 1980. Even so, the main part of the church was demolished ten years later to make room for condominiums, despite its significance to the American music culture. The only remaining part of the building is the steeple, but it still stands as a reminder of St. Mary’s musical significance. read more

College Radio Fans Organize to Save WRAS From Takeover

by Griffin Davis, Communications Intern

This week marked a frustrating setback for lovers of college radio, as a deal went into effect that splits the broadcast schedule of Georgia State University’s radio station, WRAS, handing over control to Georgia Public Broadcasting. Under the terms of the deal, GPB will control the 100,000 watt broadcast from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the weekends, leaving GSU students with the remaining hours each day and 24 hour control of the station’s webcast. Additionally, GPB will be proving an undisclosed number of internships to GSU students, but this was little consolation for the loss of the precious terrestrial airtime.

New Net Neutrality Bills Introduced in House and Senate

On February 3, 2013, Democratic leaders in the US House of Representatives and Senate introduced companion bills to preserve a level online playing field. The move follows a recent court ruling that threw out the Federal Communications Commission’s 2010 Open Internet Order establishing basic rules of the road for Internet Service Providers (ISPs). These rules are meant to prevent the very few companies that provide Internet service from blocking or discriminating against lawful content based on business or other preferences.

Big Star Tribute in NYC just got BIGGER!

Last week, we told you about a KILLER show in NYC paying tribute to the legendary Memphis rock-pop-soul act Big Star. The band’s leader, Alex Chilton, passed away last March of a heart attack. He didn’t have health insurance at the time. read more

Musicians and the Internet: Making Awesome Everyday

Can you imagine going back to a time when there wasn’t an internet? Neither can we. Although there’s little likelihood of that happening, there are some who want to change the fundamental way the internet works by allowing Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to choose which sites and services are accessible to users, and at what speed.

We think that would be a terrible thing for musicians. read more

More Musicians Stand Up for Net Neutrality

Here’s the good news: more and more people are recognizing that the open internet is crucial to everything from innovation to free speech. Musicians and independent labels depend on net neutrality too — it’s what lets them compete on a level technological playing field with the biggest companies. read more

R.E.M.: Everybody Hurts (without network neutrality)

By Nate Anderson

Ars Technica

January 12, 2010

Net neutrality isn’t just an issue for policy wonks and communications lawyers, and the boys from R.E.M. want the FCC to know just how crucial a neutral ‘Net remains for artists of all stripes. Or, to put it another way: it’s the end of the world as we know it (without network neutrality).

The effort to get bands involved in the process has been an ongoing one for the Future of Music Coalition, which is behind the latest push to have artists weigh in before the comment period closes soon. The Coalition has put together a very nice tool for crafting and submitting comments to the FCC, and it has the great virtue of providing guidance without offering a form letter as an option. read more

Future Of Music Coalition Collects Net-Neutrality Comments

By John Eggerton

Multichannel News

January 8, 2010

The Future of Music Coalition is collecting network neutrality shout-outs from musicians, including R.E.M., Pearl Jam and Dead Prez among others, on a new Web site, http://futureofmusic.org/fccopeninternet.

The group has long supported codifying network neutrality principles (it launched Rock the Net in 2007). The FCC’s Democratic majority is proposing to do just that in a proposed rulemaking launched in October.

Radio Survivor

By Matthew Lasar

FCC, music, politix

January 8, 2010

The Future of Music Coalition has a small boatload of classy crossover music groups sending letters to the Federal Communications Commission in support of tougher net neutrality rules. They include R.E.M., the woodwind quintet Imani Winds, and the Kronos Quartet.

Future of Music has a whole web page dedicated to helping musicians file comments with the agency on the issue. The guide comes complete with the do?s and don?ts of FCC feedback. ?Comments like ?Comcast sux!? may be funny but are not helpful in the FCC crafting better policy, so try to make your critiques productive,? FOM warns. read more

Music Industry Group Creates Net Neutrality Website

By John Eggerton

Broadcast Newsroom

January 8, 2010

The Future of Music Coalition is collecting network neutrality shout-outs from musicians, including R.E.M., Pearl Jam, Dead Presidents, and others on a new Web site.The group has long supported codifying network neutrality principles ( it launched Rock the Net in 2007). The FCC’s Democratic majority is proposing to do just that in a proposed rulemaking launched in October. read more

Reconstruction of the Steeple: Athens Musicians Come Together to support a Local Music Landmark

College Radio Fans Organize to Save WRAS From Takeover

New Net Neutrality Bills Introduced in House and Senate

Big Star Tribute in NYC just got BIGGER!

Musicians and the Internet: Making Awesome Everyday

More Musicians Stand Up for Net Neutrality

R.E.M.: Everybody Hurts (without network neutrality)

Future Of Music Coalition Collects Net-Neutrality Comments

Radio Survivor

Music Industry Group Creates Net Neutrality Website

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