Whew. So much information here. Controlled composition clauses, new media clauses, packaging deductions…yeesh.
All these things are alive and well, but some things have changed. Marcy Rauer Wagman of Drexel University says that this is the first year that she hasn’t had any label contract (mini, major, or affiliate) that she hasn’t seen any “new media deductions”, and the two most recent ones didn’t have “packaging deductions”.
This was one panel where I wish there were more than just half the room holding their hands up when “are there any artists here?” …

On changes noticed working for the past forty years at the US Copyright Office:
“The big difference today is there are a lot more players, a lot more people interested in copyright…that makes it more complicated.
“The other big change is the pubic - in the early days, there was no talk of “the pubic being served”…Now, the public is very much involved in the copyright debate.”
On the DMCA:
“I do think it [the DMCA] got a lot of things right. It was important that we put in  a system to protect copyright …

“Concentration in broadcasting…some feel it’s a good thing. I think things are headed completely in the wrong direction. The more the concentration, the less local interests are served…
“We have seen examples in almost every state of this concentration. I come from a state where all six radio stations are owned by the same company…and that’s a shame. And we need to change that.”

Senator Byron Dorgan, reading Natalie Maines’ 2003 “We’re ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas” quote, then discussing the aftermath and implications.

“Back in 1996, congress reformed communication law…we see as a result that top conglomerates have 50% of the market. We have new technologies out there (iPod, Satellite radio), but some of it’s been driven by policy. On the senate side, one of the things we’re looking at is LP FM, which is no replacement for individual ownership, but could expand FM broadcasting and expose more niche music and less homogenized fare.”

Everything policy related still feels so up in the air, like progress has been made…but not really. “We’re working on it…”, but what a long tedious process. It’s troublesome because these hot issues are so easily forgotten…especially as they fall out of the media spotlight (both mainstream and community based).
Also feels so reactive - how do you anticipate these things and shape legislature around that? Not easy…couldn’t have predicted Napster, but could the legislative reaction been better? Admittedly though, it’s hard for these policymakers to convince ‘the hypothetical’ to their …