Apple/RIAA Showdown tomorrow on Royalty Rates
 

Apple threatens to shut down iTunes over royalty hike - Times Online

Going to be interesting. I don't think for one second that if the RIAA gets their way, that they'll shut down Itunes.. it's a major factor in moving iPods.. but can you imagine the absolute HOWLING that would happen if they went with Apple's request to DROP Royalty's to 4.8 cents from 9 cents?

Well, to be fair they say it will make it more difficult to make a profit, and they won't run iTunes if they can't make a profit on it. Apple didn't say "raise the rates and we'll shut down!" they said "raise the rates and we may start losing money, and if we start losing money we'll have to shut it down". That middle piece is missing...

So, like a lot of other people in America, the RIAA can decide if they want NOTHING, or less than they used to have.

Stays at 9 cents per song for the next five years (this is the cut that goes to the songwriters, I was mistaken)

Maybe it's because I was an English major, but I'm not getting this math.

An increase of .09 to .15 = 66% increase?

Either the article means an increase from .09 to .15, or I need to give back the fundamental skills mastery portion of my degree.

I'm just think that with mad math skillz like that, it's no wonder the music industry is losing millions of dollars a year.