This comes to a simple reality check. Of course I was there at the time when Galaxie came to ask for licences to play the stuff we were producing at the label. I said, “Well, if your product is going to keep people from buying records because your service is so great, I'm going to ask more from you than the normal rate I ask for radio.” I understand that.
The fact is that accountancy checks for artists and for artistry and for all those associated will say, “Well, man, we are losing ground.” Some will say, “Well, you know, record labels....”The question is not there; just follow the money.
When we had these broadcaster exceptions 20 years ago, to give them a break with their first $1.5 million of sales in their small radio markets, why did we do that? We did that because they were having a hard time and the artists said, “Okay, we'll give them a break.” It's an ecosystem, and they were having a hard time. Now the radio broadcasters are claiming that they are not having a hard time anymore, so they want this provision to stop. It's understandable. It's within the family, because it's things that we regulate, things that we agree on. When we see what's going on in Europe with what has just been said with the European Parliament, for example, imposing on you guys to make equitable deals with the artists, it evokes the same reality in Europe that artists are starving.
How can you explain, for example, that the YouTube revenues for artists vary so much? We have changes, and if I am not mistaken, it's an average of not 7/1,000 of a cent, but 7/10,000 of a cent per play. I understand the situation, but still it varies for a million plays from $250 to $4,000. How can this vary so much? How can it be possible for non-super-big corporations to follow this? How can it switch from $250 to $4,000 per million spins or listens? How can it change like that?