State of the Scene

[scratchapella]

so i figured out why i might be getting bored. . . i’ve tried taking time off parties and clubs and though i haven’t tried the production/dj thing. . .i think i could be happier doing this. . .

EDM (and the Scene) has influenced my life incredibly in the past 5 years. it means a lot to me, and i know it means a lot to most of you. . . we’ve been hella lucky with the state of the scene in DC so far (buzz, successful parties – umm usually, decent production crews and families, no cragee mayor with an anti-rave agenda). and fortunately, i’ve never experienced a busted party, dealt w/ “the authorities”, mourned the closing of a favorite club (enough already twilofreaks!) or anything negative like that. i'm hella grateful for all that.

anyways, i was wondering, dee or eggmok, if you guys could make this a “sticky” thread and i'll post or update any relevant information to “the state of the scene” in it? links, articles, who to contact, etc. if i had the time, i would do this for all the other boards out there, but i'm hoping the rest of you will just pass the information along. . . and what you choose to do with it, that’s up to you.

peace.

[scratchapella]

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-...3782ih.txt.pdf

I did a little research on this, and the bill was just brought out two months ago. . .so there’s lots of time. It’s mostly geared towards the use, sale, etc of methamphetimines, but in section 416(a) (page 15 when you’re reading it on adobe).

Ehh. . . I’ll just type it out..

Section 416.A Promoters of Drug Oriented Entertainment
“Whoever knowingly promotes any rave, dance, music, or other entertainment event that takes place under circumstance where the promoter knows or reasonably ought to know that a controlled substance will be used or distributed in violation of Federal Law or the law of the place where the event is held, shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for not more than 9 years, or both.”

ridiculous? right?

tell your local rep what you think. you can contact them or write directly online through: www.house.gov/writerep.

[scratchapella]

(from the Selekta crew) again, i'll try doing a little research and see what the progress has been on this. . .
:
The electronic music industry depends heavily on the use
of streaming audio (webcasting) to promote and distribute music. The Selekta has been doing live broadcasts for quite some time, and our archivedaudio database is made up of mixes by artists from across the globe. In all, our online audio reaches tens of thousands of dance music fans each andevery month.

The Selekta is not organized as a for-profit venture with sole goals on making money by exploiting artists and DJs, nor by mass-merchandising. Our primary goal, like many Web-based media companies, is to distribute quality information to our readers and to serve as a spring board for DJs and producers from around the world. The Selekta is indeed "All about themusic."

Without going into a lot of detail in this letter, we are asking that
everyone who uses the Internet for the sake of listening to music, or learning about those people that work every day to produce tunes for your pleasure, to PLEASE read and understand what has become knows as "The CARP recommendations."

In the near future, The United States Copyright Office is scheduled to make a decision a recommendation of an executive group called the Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel. These recommendations will destroy the ability for small companies and promotional groups to stream audio via the Internet. If approved, these recommendations will literally wipe out your ability to listen to the music you love. The only people that will be able to do internet broadcasting of copyrighted music will be major radio stations and record labels --- Big business will win, and everyone else (including you) will lose.

We at The Selekta never ask for anything in return from the scene and cornerof the music industry that we support so heavily. However, we are pleadingwith you to take 5 minutes of your time to look up the contact information for your United States Congress and Senate members and to CALL THEIR OFFICES to express your concern over this legislation. It might take 5 minutes and a few dollars in long distance, but the effect it can have on the future of the Internet and the music industry is huge.


You can find detailed information to help you become informed about this important matter (CARP) at save internet radio web site: http://www.saveinternetradio.org

To contact your legislative representatives, please visit
http://www.congress.org.

[malanee]

Thanks for keeping us updated. We don't have a representative in Congress here in DC though, right?

We can still make a lot of noise, though!

Hey Crank - do you think anyone could actually get prosecuted under that law?

[therunner]

Originally posted by malanee
Thanks for keeping us updated. We don't have a representative in Congress here in DC though, right?

We can still make a lot of noise, though!

Hey Crank - do you think anyone could actually get prosecuted under that law?

I don't think club owners could actually get prosecuted unless they were actually caught selling or buy or giving. But could it close a club down while it is being investigated, YES. And keep it closed long enough for the owner to lose so much money that they are forced to sell it, that could happen. BTW, some of DC PD's finest wlked into the warehouse at around 5am on saturday morning and dragged some guy out. I think one of the so-called security guys there caught him dealing and called the DCPD. But thats just the rumor that was going around there.

[crank47]

Is there a companion bill in the Senate? If not, then I'm not too worried.

I really dislike the way they're trying to sneak this in under a larger methamphetimines bill. Many a bad law has been created this way.

If it does become law, sure someone can be prosecuted under it. Of course, I think it would be challenged pretty quickly. I mean, much like the attempt to use the crack-house laws in New Orleans (in short, went after club owners holding EDM events), this law could (and would) probably be used to go after more than just EDM events. I mean, go to any concert in any venue and you'll find drugs (I'm not talking about the symphony or opera at the Kennedy center or anything, tho I have seen people enjoying a toot at the opera before). Therefore, what would be in the "reasonably ought to know" catagory? Pretty much any event that involves music and a group of people I guess. I really don't think promoters, restaurant owners, club owners, etc... would go for this and I'm sure they can put up a pretty good lobbying effort to stop it or bring up a legal challenge if such a law were to pass.

However, Scratch is right, they're trying to slip this one in under the radar by embedding it in a much larger bill and we had better watch it and get the word out.

[scratchapella]

Crank, you're right. HR 3782 does not have a companion bill in the Senate. It was just introduced in the House this February, referred to a bunch of subcomittees (Energy, fda, crime, etc) most recently (March). . .

[scratchapella]

some interesting comments by a lawyer/dj ( ) on HR 3782:
http://www.naughtybooth.com/board/sh...threadid=14375

it creating some discussion on the buzz board too. . .

[scratchapella]

andnowyouKNOW:

www.emdef.com

(it's really good, much better than reading through the other senseless shit on the internet)

[raver_mania]

That really sux! I wonder if I can write someone, ya know...me not being a citizen or anything!

[pluryou]

I am new and have no clue how this thing works. Runner if your out there help!

[pgiddy]

Originally posted by pluryou
I am new and have no clue how this thing works. Runner if your out there help!

First things first, I recommend you remove your home phone number. Besides that if you know how to use email then it's not that hard to figure out. See that little button that says reply, well hit that one, then type all you want(by pressing down the keys) then hit send, It's that easy, good luck!

[therunner]

Originally posted by pgiddy
then type all you want(by pressing down the keys) then hit send, It's that easy, good luck!

"Step By step instructions on how to correctly post"

By pgiddy

I will help in the publication dept.

[malanee]

Originally posted by pgiddy


First things first, I recommend you remove your home phone number. Besides that if you know how to use email then it's not that hard to figure out. See that little button that says reply, well hit that one, then type all you want(by pressing down the keys) then hit send, It's that easy, good luck!

Please ignore Pgiddy! Every board has to have an asshole! I think we have more than our fair share!

[pgiddy]

Originally posted by therunner


"Step By step instructions on how to correctly post"

By pgiddy

I will help in the publication dept.

Sounds good we'll split the profits even, 80% me 20% you.
"Posting for Dummies"