Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web:
Q&A about the Songwriters Equity Act: Billboard interviewed Rep. Doug Collins, who reintroduced the Songwriters Equity Act to the House last week. The Georgia Republican explained why the proposed legislation keeps coming back on the table and how it plays into bigger plans to try to improve copyright law in the U.S. “It’s a philosophical issue,” he said. “This is a fairness issue.”
Mad Genius hits crowdfunding goal: With 17 days still to go, Mad Genius Radio has already hit its Kickstarter goal. The funding will support the company bringing its streaming property to all listeners on the web and on mobile. The service is a lean-back listening platform with extensive options to customize the song mix. Check out RAIN’s review here.
Bandcamp hits $100 million in artist payouts: Bandcamp has been pushing the potential of its new subscription program to get more dollars directly to artists. The direct-to-fan platform recently announced that through its service, fans have paid out more than $100 million to their favorite musicians. Album sales through Bandcamp have also increased 30% in the past year, with fans buying an average of more than 16,000 records a day.