Get the Licenses!

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors, which the RIAA says “create, manufacture, and/or distribute approximately 85% of all legally sold recorded music in the United States”. The RIAA and 17 other music industry groups have also signed a letter questioning how Twitch helps people to download music.

Trade organization’s leaders, chairman/CEO Mitch Glazier and COO Michele Ballantyne were asked if there was something to be said for giving music away for free in order to get business in return? Glazier answered; “As long as that’s the choice of the creator, that’s fine. What’s not fine is Twitch saying, “We’re not going to make sure that the songwriter’s paid if you use a recording; you have to go take care of that… I mean, we’re just Amazon.” That’s crazy. Twitch should do what any digital service does: Clear the rights, get the licenses, and create a platform that people can use knowing that they’re not going to face a lawsuit from another creator”.