For the past 15 years, I've devoted my life to serving you, the people who love this music often referred to as "The Great American Songbook." I didn't know much about the music when Clear Channel asked me to try a younger, more fun approach to this music. What I learned very quickly is about the passion people have for this music. The artists who sing the songs, the writers who write it and those family members whose responsibility it is to carry the torch for those great songs, the musicians who make a living playing these songs and you, the people who listen, buy the music, go to shows - this is all about you. You're the reason we passed on opportunity after opportunity to pursue other radio related career options. Now, so many people have made Martini in the Morning their station for the greatest songs ever written. Our team of unintentional volunteers have committed their time, money, blood, sweat and tears to serving you.
There is nothing like Martini in the Morning. Perhaps I was inspired by Frank Sinatra Jr. years ago when he laid the blame for the downfall of his father's music at the feet of radio broadcasters who allowed the presentation of this fun, romantic, thought provoking music become stale and stodgy. Frank reminded me of the number of Frank Sinatra albums and songs that had the word "Swing" in them. He said there was nothing "Swinging" about the way this music was being delivered on the radio. We set out to change that, to put the fun back into listening to these great songs. Since our travails began recently, so many people have told us they tried other stations that play similar music and they simply aren't the same. Yes, there is some extra "Secret Sauce" that we add to make the Martini in the Morning recipe just a little different from everything else out there.
Now, we're at a crossroads. Operating Martini in the Morning has been a challenge from the beginning. Now, SoundExchange has made it their business to put us out of business. It is their job to enforce the Digital Millennium Copyright Act passed by congress in 2000. While we have complied with rules meant to protect artists, musicians and recording companies from losing revenue due to high quality digital broadcasting, we have not been able to comply with the royalties portion of the law. The royalty rates are so high they would put us out of business. Many of the artists we play record CDs to promote their live appearances. There is a studio here in Southern California that says most of their clients are making CDs as calling cards, using them to solicit club dates. The airplay that those artists get, the interviews we do, encourage folks to attend their shows so they can make a living. The big record companies that lobbied congress and influenced the wording of the law could care less about these artists.
We have invested everything in serving you, keeping a genre alive that has been largely abandoned by big broadcasters and record companies. We have committed ourselves to promoting live performances, keeping professional musicians working. We are dedicated to giving on the air and on stage exposure to artists who are making this music, reassuring them that as long as they make their art we will make sure they have a place to display it in hopes you'll like it, buy their CDs, go to their shows.
We are trying to make peace with SoundExchange, but one of our streaming partners said it appears SoundExchange won't be satisfied until we are silenced. That's the reason you don't hear us on TuneIn or Radio Loyalty. We are working hard to comply with their requirements but we are running out of time and resources. Thank you for your friendship, your loyalty and for loving the music like we do. While we try to sort this out, you should be able to listen on computers or mobile devices here:
http://martiniinthemorning.com/player/mitmplay5.html
Thanks,
