AfterDawn: News

RIAA wants to make FM radios mandatory in all smartphones, MP3 players

The RIAA and NAB have proposed a new bill that would force all smartphones, MP3 players and tablets to include an FM radio in the future.

Gary Shapiro, the president of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), had some harsh words for the proposal, as it would affect a large number of devices built by CEA members.



"Rather than adapt to the digital marketplace, NAB and RIAA act like buggy-whip industries that refuse to innovate and seek to impose penalties on those that do," Shapiro added, via Ars.

For example, a product like the iPod Shuffle would be impossible to create, as the body would need to be made larger, and more controls would be needed to be able to tune stations.

The NAB is willing to cave into paying $100 million a year to the RIAA in royalties (under the Performance Rights Act), if the FM radios are implemented.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 17 Aug 2010 17:05

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• 41 comments

• ROMaster2

  Some people just don't listen to radio on their players or phones you know, they listen to THEIR OWN MUSIC.

  17.8.2010 17:18 #1

• andmill11

  God forbid apple has to add a button to their devices

  17.8.2010 17:53 #2

• toked

  Originally posted by ROMaster2: Some people just don't listen to radio on their players or phones you know, they listen to THEIR OWN MUSIC. But then how will they impose commercials and commercial music upon you!?
  

  17.8.2010 18:06 #3

• Dapsone

  I don't really understand why they are pushing this. There has to be something where this feeds money back to the RIAA? (i.e. how these royalties work) But I'm not seeing where it's connected. Undoubtedly these guys are as crooked as they come.

  17.8.2010 18:23 #4

• mike.m

  Honestly, who the hell do the RIAA think they are? If devices are going to have Fm radio's, then it's up to the company/manufacturer who OWNS the device. **** OFF RIAA.

  17.8.2010 18:25 #5

• deak91

  wow if i wanted a fm radio i would not have bought an ipod i think the riaa and nab are forgetting that a fm radio was an option on some media player devices for the last 3-5 years that i can remember and the devices would cost more because the cost of the fm radio rights would be placed on the buyer . they dont sell well in the us because most if not all fm radio station are now dj free from 10 am to 6am thats all but the morning drive and lets not forget the many pop music only stations. after all it was them that got rid of the dj stations and made them music only . i have lots of music(mp3) that i play at work why would i pay more for a device that has an fm radio when its just music only just like my mp3s and lets not forget they might place a checking system in the player to stop you from playing your mp3s because you did not buy the tracks you encoded them and when you sync it up it might send your info to tell them who to sue for (stolen music ) not bought music
  forcing the public to buy a fm radio player is just a last effort attempt for them to try to wedge a quickly dieing format to a newer format that is in its early prime to make itself relevant and to try to conform the new standard to the old standard instead of changing radio stations to compete with if not support the new format standard (please dont hate me for this after all we all have a**holes that spew sh*t just some spew from the mouth by mistake)
  

  17.8.2010 18:33 #6

• KSib

  This is dumb. All of it.
  

  17.8.2010 18:50 #7

• dziglar

  Originally posted by deak91: wow if i wanted a fm radio i would not have bought an ipod i think the riaa and nab are forgetting that a fm radio was an option on some media player devices for the last 3-5 years that i can remember and the devices would cost more because the cost of the fm radio rights would be placed on the buyer . they dont sell well in the us because most if not all fm radio station are now dj free from 10 am to 6am thats all but the morning drive and lets not forget the many pop music only stations. after all it was them that got rid of the dj stations and made them music only . i have lots of music(mp3) that i play at work why would i pay more for a device that has an fm radio when its just music only just like my mp3s and lets not forget they might place a checking system in the player to stop you from playing your mp3s because you did not buy the tracks you encoded them and when you sync it up it might send your info to tell them who to sue for (stolen music ) not bought music
  forcing the public to buy a fm radio player is just a last effort attempt for them to try to wedge a quickly dieing format to a newer format that is in its early prime to make itself relevant and to try to conform the new standard to the old standard instead of changing radio stations to compete with if not support the new format standard (please dont hate me for this after all we all have a**holes that spew sh*t just some spew from the mouth by mistake) Shift and punctuation keys broke, eh?

  17.8.2010 20:27 #8

• Notcow

  This is confusing...I don't see their motivation...
  

  17.8.2010 22:23 #9

• 21Q

  Originally posted by andmill11: God forbid apple has to add a button to their devices I'm sorry I just rolled laughing xD
  
  In any case I don't see how this could fly.
  

  If you want a nice icon for your iPhone for afterdawn click on the link below. There is a two second delay before the redirect so act fast! http://www.freewebs.com/21qz/afterdawn.html
  
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  17.8.2010 22:48 #10

• bobiroc

  The RIAA can go to hell. They are clueless and out of touch. Their opinion and their My Way or the Highway attitude sucks ass.

  17.8.2010 23:54 #11

• vurbal

  Originally posted by Dapsone: I don't really understand why they are pushing this. There has to be something where this feeds money back to the RIAA? (i.e. how these royalties work) But I'm not seeing where it's connected. Undoubtedly these guys are as crooked as they come.
  Originally posted by Notcow: This is confusing...I don't see their motivation...
  It's rumored this is related to the NAB planning to stop fighting against performance royalties, which would give RIAA members royalties from terrestrial radio similar to what they get from webcasters and satellite radio already.
  

  Freedom of speech is ultra important so stupid people will make their stupid statements so we know how stupid they are.
  
  - Ted Nugent

  18.8.2010 00:05 #12

• xboxdvl2

  I honestly dont see the point in putting a radio into everything.if i want a portable device with radio on it, I can walk into any cheapo shop and buy a no brand fm radio for about $2-$10.the ipod shuffles are good cause they are tiny.you can listen to music and no one even notices,putting a screen on them would make them look big and bulky.
  

  PS2 with 12 games.
  pc-windows 7,intel core quad Q8400,4 Gb ddr2,WD 500 GB hdd,ATI Radeon HD 4550 graphics,AOC 22inch LCD moniter.

  18.8.2010 00:21 #13

• Tristan_2

  First they unlawfully sue People on P2P or almost all forms of Sharing Music, Now this? WHAT THE HELL!?
  
  IS this year corporations and schools can get a way with breaking the Law Year? Seriously I just read nobody will be prosecuted in the School Web Cam Scandal and now this....
  
  Its like we the regular people or Actors are involved in any scandal we get screwed yet Corporations and Schools they can almost get away with anything.
  
  Are we in the Twilight Zone or woke in some alternate reality( little Sarcasm) It really feels the law in the globe works bat shit insane backwards
  

  18.8.2010 01:16 #14

• KillerBug

  If I wanted a radio, I would have one! I actually removed the antenna from my car because I didn't like listening to those dumb DJ's and ads when I switched SD cards...I prefer static!
  

  
  

  18.8.2010 02:02 #15

• elbald90

  surely it should be left up to the manufacturers if people want a device with built in radio they will buy one, why increase the cost for those that dont ? the world is going crazy (id say America but the UK is getting just as bad)
  

  18.8.2010 02:52 #16

• ROMaster2

  Quote:If I wanted a radio, I would have one! I actually removed the antenna from my car because I didn't like listening to those dumb DJ's and ads when I switched SD cards...I prefer static! Looking into one now.

  18.8.2010 02:55 #17

• xboxdvl2

  thinks its time the government and corporations start asking people what they want instead of telling them what to do.
  

  PS2 with 12 games.
  pc-windows 7,intel core quad Q8400,4 Gb ddr2,WD 500 GB hdd,ATI Radeon HD 4550 graphics,AOC 22inch LCD moniter.

  18.8.2010 04:12 #18

• Mysttic

  The gov't doesn't care about what people want; so that will never happen, they care about power and money.

  18.8.2010 09:53 #19

• ddp

  agreed.
  

  18.8.2010 12:57 #20

• DXR88

  Originally posted by vurbal: It's rumored this is related to the NAB planning to stop fighting against performance royalties, which would give RIAA members royalties from terrestrial radio similar to what they get from webcasters and satellite radio already.
  
  no doubt, its definitely connected to this. however its just the riaa flexing there flabby muscle. after all they have no real power in this manner.
  
  
  

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  18.8.2010 13:06 #21

• blueboy09

  Seriously, the RIAA is getting out of hand here. My God, if radio is THAT important to them, why don't they just put that feature into their MP3 players or whatever portable device they have, and leave us the hell alone!!

  18.8.2010 19:06 #22

• KillerBug

  Because the people from RIAA don't want to listen to the radio; they know that it is terrible. The music is little more than advertising for the bands, then there is a crummy DJ that no one likes, and then they have 35 minutes of actual ads for every hour. On top of that, all of this is in quality similar to a 64K mp3. Yes, there are occasional nuggets of quality...but most of these are available online.
  
  The people who still listen to the radio already have a radio, in fact, they probably have several radios...and those who do not want to listen to the radio are not suddenly going to start listening to the radio just because they happen to have a radio in their phone.
  
  These huge corporations are playing games with our laws and our rights just to settle an agreement in a way in which two parties, both in the wrong, can both win...while defeating the public who will not even be included in the process.

  18.8.2010 23:18 #23

• Tristan_2

  Originally posted by KillerBug: Because the people from RIAA don't want to listen to the radio; they know that it is terrible. The music is little more than advertising for the bands, then there is a crummy DJ that no one likes, and then they have 35 minutes of actual ads for every hour. On top of that, all of this is in quality similar to a 64K mp3. Yes, there are occasional nuggets of quality...but most of these are available online.
  
  The people who still listen to the radio already have a radio, in fact, they probably have several radios...and those who do not want to listen to the radio are not suddenly going to start listening to the radio just because they happen to have a radio in their phone.
  
  These huge corporations are playing games with our laws and our rights just to settle an agreement in a way in which two parties, both in the wrong, can both win...while defeating the public who will not even be included in the process. Couldn't agree with you more, Especially with crap like this it feels like Gov/Corporations First Gov/The People Later or Never
  

  19.8.2010 14:34 #24

• thargor

  If the w*nk*rs in the UK get their way, FM will be obsolete in a few years anyway. Leave us with digital cr*p, that has as much chance of holding a signal as me of holding Sandra Bullock (or whoever you fancy).

  20.8.2010 11:44 #25

• Necrosaro

  Originally posted by toked: Originally posted by ROMaster2: Some people just don't listen to radio on their players or phones you know, they listen to THEIR OWN MUSIC. But then how will they impose commercials and commercial music upon you!? Thats why I LOVE listening to Sirius (Satellite) radio. Dont have to sit there and listen to 25 minutes of commercials every hour. The AM/FM radio is on the decline due to other music delivery systems out there.

  20.8.2010 19:23 #26

• LeMike

  Originally posted by Tristan_2: First they unlawfully sue People on P2P or almost all forms of Sharing Music, Now this? WHAT THE HELL!?
  
  IS this year corporations and schools can get a way with breaking the Law Year? Seriously I just read nobody will be prosecuted in the School Web Cam Scandal and now this....
  
  Its like we the regular people or Actors are involved in any scandal we get screwed yet Corporations and Schools they can almost get away with anything.
  
  Are we in the Twilight Zone or woke in some alternate reality( little Sarcasm) It really feels the law in the globe works bat shit insane backwards Sorry, Tristan: you'd better start listening when the girl sings your national anthem again: "The land of the Taxed and the home of the slave". The open secret of the USA is that Money Talks. Your country's politics are dictated by money, nothing else, and here you see just one small symptom of it. The greed for money on Wall Street over the last 20 years is the reason that the US managed to trash the whole world economy. Now you know: so go do something about it!

  20.8.2010 21:55 #27

• KillerBug

  Yup...god bless America (because no one else will).

  21.8.2010 04:16 #28

• creaky

  Originally posted by thargor: If the w*nk*rs in the UK get their way, FM will be obsolete in a few years anyway. Leave us with digital cr*p, that has as much chance of holding a signal as me of holding Sandra Bullock (or whoever you fancy). This is what has me confused, they're trying to banish analogue radio, to force us to upgrade to the inferior DAB etc, yet they want to enforce FM radios in smartphones ?, when FM's days are unfortunately numbered. There must be a hidden agenda here, i just can't see it yet though..
  

  
  
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  21.8.2010 07:06 #29

• ben101

  Originally posted by dziglar: Originally posted by deak91: wow if i wanted a fm radio i would not have bought an ipod i think the riaa and nab are forgetting that a fm radio was an option on some media player devices for the last 3-5 years that i can remember and the devices would cost more because the cost of the fm radio rights would be placed on the buyer . they dont sell well in the us because most if not all fm radio station are now dj free from 10 am to 6am thats all but the morning drive and lets not forget the many pop music only stations. after all it was them that got rid of the dj stations and made them music only . i have lots of music(mp3) that i play at work why would i pay more for a device that has an fm radio when its just music only just like my mp3s and lets not forget they might place a checking system in the player to stop you from playing your mp3s because you did not buy the tracks you encoded them and when you sync it up it might send your info to tell them who to sue for (stolen music ) not bought music
  forcing the public to buy a fm radio player is just a last effort attempt for them to try to wedge a quickly dieing format to a newer format that is in its early prime to make itself relevant and to try to conform the new standard to the old standard instead of changing radio stations to compete with if not support the new format standard (please dont hate me for this after all we all have a**holes that spew sh*t just some spew from the mouth by mistake) Shift and punctuation keys broke, eh?
  Are you an english teacher?
  
  
  

  21.8.2010 07:45 #30

• ddp

  no but it is hard to read.
  

  21.8.2010 13:34 #31

• Jay1Dk

  You all fail to see this for what it is: a business model
  
  None of you seem to quite figure out what such a proposal might entail:
  
  Adding an FM radio to any device capable of signal reception and making it mandatory means that everyone owning said device has the ability to listen to whatever station are on the dial.
  This provides the stations with huge "potential markets" and keeps them in existence.
  Moreover, it allows for governments to impose on people a "multimedia tax". My country already has this (as part of the world's highest tax rate). Because of the high penetration rate of said device, any government can decide that majority of their population own one and therefore impose the tax on all citizens, leaving it up to the latter to prove that (s)he does not own a device capable of receiving FM. Payment of this tax can even be automated so that funds are transferred directly into your government's coffers.

  21.8.2010 22:17 #32

• Mez

  Originally posted by Dapsone: I don't really understand why they are pushing this. There has to be something where this feeds money back to the RIAA? (i.e. how these royalties work) But I'm not seeing where it's connected. Undoubtedly these guys are as crooked as they come. Radio has to pay royalties to the RIAA. I suspect RIAA would prefer no button, have the radio on all the time. More money that way.

  22.8.2010 10:01 #33

• IguanaC64

  @ROMaster2 - If you want inexpensive, I just bought a BOSS 840UBI for $115 after shipping. Accepts USB and SDCards and has bluetooth built in (sound quality is not terribly good over the car speakers, but the person on the other side says they can hear me fine and road noise is pretty bad on that vehicle...I've also streamed bt audio from my cell phone to play mp3's and Pandora...sounded pretty good). Only real complaint is that the front is glossy and the display has trouble being bright enough when the sun is directly on the faceplate. If you don't want inexpensive then the sky's the limit! =)

  23.8.2010 16:28 #34

• DXR88

  Originally posted by creaky: Originally posted by thargor: If the w*nk*rs in the UK get their way, FM will be obsolete in a few years anyway. Leave us with digital cr*p, that has as much chance of holding a signal as me of holding Sandra Bullock (or whoever you fancy). This is what has me confused, they're trying to banish analogue radio, to force us to upgrade to the inferior DAB etc, yet they want to enforce FM radios in smartphones ?, when FM's days are unfortunately numbered. There must be a hidden agenda here, i just can't see it yet though.. ah creaky that's an easy one, World Domination. they will send an FM wave to the users of all cell phones. these FM messages will contain Subliminal Information allowing the RIAA to embed thoughts into are brains every time we talk,text or are in proximity to a Corporate purchased 99c ring-tone.
  

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  23.8.2010 21:17 #35

• ddp

  won't work with me as i don't have a cell phone nor do i want 1.
  

  23.8.2010 21:40 #36

• dabagboy

  Originally posted by Dapsone: I don't really understand why they are pushing this. There has to be something where this feeds money back to the RIAA? (i.e. how these royalties work) But I'm not seeing where it's connected. Undoubtedly these guys are as crooked as they come. from the article...
  
  "The NAB is willing to cave into paying $100 million a year to the RIAA in royalties"

  24.8.2010 10:38 #37

• qazwiz

  there was a time that people would have done anything short of murder to have a radio in their home.... but now the RIAA wants to squeeze money by requiring a radio? this is SO anti freedom that it must be unconstitutional
  

  qazwiz is qazwiz everywhere. If you see me say HI!

  25.8.2010 19:16 #38

• xboxdvl2

  Originally posted by qazwiz: there was a time that people would have done anything short of murder to have a radio in their home.... but now the RIAA wants to squeeze money by requiring a radio? this is SO anti freedom that it must be unconstitutional were living in a technology age.Kids without the latest computer feel deprived.years ago people were just glad to have something to listen to music on or something new.Now people expect things.
  

  PS2 with 12 games.
  pc-windows 7,intel core quad Q8400,4 Gb ddr2,WD 500 GB hdd,ATI Radeon HD 4550 graphics,AOC 22inch LCD moniter.

  26.8.2010 01:04 #39

• bobiroc

  Originally posted by xboxdvl2: were living in a technology age.Kids without the latest computer feel deprived.years ago people were just glad to have something to listen to music on or something new.Now people expect things. The only thing I expect from the RIAA is to sign quality musicians and put out quality music and then make it affordable to purchase. IMO $.99+ for a downloaded song is too much. In many cases you can get the CD cheaper if you go for the whole album and get higher quality DRM free tracks. There is much less overhead for the RIAA using downloading services and while some of the pricing may be the download services, like iTunes, setting the price I believe .$25 - $.50 is more reasonable for a downloaded track. I still prefer to do things "old school" and buy the album and make my own MP3s. The only downfall to that is I have to store these albums somewhere.

  26.8.2010 08:06 #40

• Mez

  Originally posted by dabagboy: "The NAB is willing to cave into paying $100 million a year to the RIAA in royalties" Yes but then the have one of the most powerful international lobby as an ally. Maybe the RIAA is powerful enough to require everyone in the world to carry a radio or face imprisonment.

  26.8.2010 08:50 #41