Currently, songwriters take in 8¢ per song every time music is purchased (and most often the publisher will take half). Now the RIAA and record labels are pushing to lower that rate to 6¢ per song.

Songwriters fighting for fair wages? This scenario reminds me a bit of the television writers’ strike going on right now, where those involved are fighting for a residual 0.6% per DVD sold (up from 0.3%). The Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers has refused to meet the writer’s needs and left TV viewers with fragmented television series.

The difference I see between these two groups is that TV writers need the producers. Not surprisingly, producing a television show involves a much larger budget than producing a song. It takes a great effort from the studios to orchestrate the cast, sets, and equipment – and to fund the project.

But music is different. Music production and distribution costs have dropped dramatically in the past 10 years. If anything, the labels should pass some of this savings on to the musicians and songwriters. Instead they are siphoning pennies from the writers.

The RIAA will have a difficult time justifying a need for cutting the royalty rate. As a songwriter, I see this as a last stand – and reason to cut the RIAA out of your life all together.