Honky Tonks & Heartaches

The day the music died

Sadly I have to report that as of July 14th 2007 you will no longer be able to listen to my show,” The Honky Tonks & Heartaches Show” on Twangtown USA.com. The American Copyright Royalty Board in their wisdom? Have decided to raise royalty rates paid by internet radio stations by up to 1200% back dated to January 2006 !! This effectively makes it impossible for many smaller concerns to operate without a huge loss. Not only does this action deprive you the listener of hearing the many independent artists that can not achieve airplay on commercial radio, it also kills the chances of many struggling and unknown singers. Thanks to Dick Shuey’s Twangtown USA.com station it has been my privilege for the past 76 months to present some tremendous artists to listeners all over the world. I have also been able to introduce some fine Australian singer/songwriters for the first time. Together with Big Al Field’s show “Country Homestead” we have been able to show the world some of the great talent that Australia has to offer. I shall be eternally grateful to Dick Shuey for this opportunity that he gave me to present a radio show that not only you the listeners enjoyed but gave me great pleasure in presenting. Hopefully, the powers that be might see common sense at some time in the future and reverse this ridiculous ruling. I am all in favour of an artist being rewarded for their efforts but if there are no stations to play their music, then how will the general public even know that they exist?
In conclusion, I should once more like to thank Dick Shuey and also you the listener for tuning in.
Hopefully, I shall be back some time in the future.
Bye for Now,
Barry Wass