SoundExchange starts new lobbying organization

SoundExchange starts new lobbying organization: the Music First Coalition to go after over-the-air broadcasters and remove the exemptions they were granted in the copyright act.

Mark Kadesh is the executive director of the Music First Coalition, a new lobbying coalition started by SoundExchange to go after over-the-air broadcasters for more music royalties.

Mark Kadesh, previously the Chief of Staff for Senator Dianne Feinstein, recently joined Bartlett Bendall, and they've changed their name to Bartlett, Bendall & Kadesh.

You can see why Senator Feinstein hasn't been too receptive to internet radio issues; her former chief of staff seems to have been in bed with the RIAA lobby.

And SoundExchange is one of Bartlett, Bendall & Kadesh's clients, as is the RIAA, MPAA and NBC Universal as well as Universal Music Group.

Their current and past clients include:

ALDRICH CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM
AMGEN, INC
APPLIED DNA SCIENCES
BICKEL & BREWER
BLACK WARRIOR - CAHABA RIVERS LAND TRUST
BOND MARKET ASSN
CALIFORNIA HEALTHCARE INSTITUTE
CITY OF CALERA, ALABAMA
COALITION FOR FAIR & AFFORDABLE LENDING
COUNTRYWIDE FINANCIAL
EASTERN HEALTH SYSTEM INC
EQUIFAX
FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF ATLANTA
FEDERAL HOME LOAN MORTGAGE CORP
FINANCIAL SERVICES INSTITUTE
FIRST DATA
GENENTECH, INC
HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN
INTEL
LINCOLN CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS
LOVE TERMINAL PARTNERS
MAINE MEDICAL CENTER
METLIFE
METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
MORGAN STANLEY
MOTION PICTURE ASSN OF AMERICA
NATL CENTER FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME
NBC UNIVERSAL
OPTIMAL GROUP INC
PMI GROUP INC
RESOURCES LEGACY FUND FOUNDATION
SOUNDEXCHANGE
SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
SOUTHEASTERN ECONOMIC ALLIANCE
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON
UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP
WASHINGTON MUTUAL BANK
WESTERN UNION

(Source: US Senate Registrant/Client List and Senate Identification Numbers)

They also list their current clients on their web site, which includes the RIAA.

There is some lively discussion about this over at the Slyck Forums.