Instead of brokering a deal with companies that represent the rights to comics, Spotify, Pandora and other streamers have been yanking out most comedy videos until this is all sorted out. That in and of itself sucks for comedy fans who are used to devouring their favorites.
But now Pandora has taken it to another level – that’s right, The streamers are suing the comics.
The whole idea seems crazy – what did the comedians do besides make us laugh? Pandora says it’s price fixing by a nefarious “comedy cartel.” Here is a small selection of what the lawyers claim. Attention: obligatory legal clarification ahead:
“By assembling its portfolio of rights to the works of conspiratorial comedians, Word Collections also poses a real threat of monopolizing the market for the rights to perform, distribute and reproduce the comedy routines contained in comedy recordings, power, it has can and will make an impact through Pandora and other services that offer comedy.”
Die Academy Awards
Conclusion: Pandora, Spotify and Co. no longer want to pay. The actual problem? Comedians have not asserted their right to this double payment over the years. Streamers like Pandora and Spotify claim that when comic artists signed their deals, a package deal was implicit – the record company bought all the rights.
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