Bum Rushing for 80 Cents

Buying music from the RIAA labels just gives them the funding to sue the people they're supposed to be marketing to, while screwing over the artists who keep them in business.

Example:

Members of Cheap Trick and The Allman Brothers Band, two veteran rock acts that signed deals in a pre-digital universe have sued Sony BMG for unpaid royalties.

The heart of the complaint lies in "packaging costs", which are deducted from royalties paid to artists when music is pressed to CD (or in the case of The Allman Brothers, vinyl). Both Cheap Trick and The ABB claim that they are being dramatically underpaid, being that digital downloads have minimal, if any, packaging costs associated.

"A major label like Sony BMG likely receives 80 cents of every 99 cent download. Out of that 80 cents, 4.5 cents goes to the Allmans based on their existing terms."

Source: http://digitalmusic.weblogsinc.com/2006/04/28/cheap-trick-allman-brothers-sue-sony-bmg-over-digital-distribut/

Wouldn't it be better for the artist to receive that 80 cents than a litigation-happy recording industry association? We think so. Bum Rush The Charts will demonstrate the power of podcasting and the richness of independent, podsafe music. As a bonus, your purchase on March 22, 2007 will take 5 cents out of the 19 that Apple collects and put it towards college scholarships. Great music, social good, and a hearty heave-ho to the record labels - what's not to like?