For a limited time only, available July 4th through July 6th, you can download and save all the songs from the ID08 U.S. digital album, burn an audio CD, copy the music to your iPod and even print the artwork. It's automatic, right from this page -- just click the album below!

Independents Day 08 U.S. $8.99 (MP3)

Now you can stream samples of each song featured on the US Independents Day 2008 Digital Album by clicking on the below link. Digital Album only availailable from July 4 through July 6!

http://stream.qtv.apple.com/qtv/toolshed/idus_08v2_ref.mov

Experiences from Dragonforce and Ani DiFranco, tracks from Atmosphere, Devendra Banhart, and more added.

Rich Bengloff, President of A2IM, authors the op-ed article entitled "A Fifth Voice: Indies Are Well-Positioned in Today's Business" in the June 28, 2008 issue of Billboard Magazine.

The Payola Education Guide briefly looks at the history of payola, the development of the "indie promoter" system, the investigations by the New York State Attorney General and the FCC from 2003-2007, the contents of the "Rules of Engagement" signed by the four largest radio companies to provide context of what it means for musicians and independent labels, and how artists are interacting with radio in the 21st century.

Merlin's position is now equal to that of EMI Music and represents the largest bundle of rights outside of the four major labels.

Click here for Kid Rock's interesting take on illegal downloading. 

This July 4th weekend we will be celebrating Independent's Day to celebrate Independent Music and the worldwide unity of the the Independent music sector.

The United States is the only OECD (the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development) country in the world where only the songwriter is paid a royalty when a song is played on terrestrial commercial radio. The performance right holders (which include the featured performing artists, back-up artists and music labels) are not paid any royalty at all for the performance on the radio.

Legislation has been introduced in Congress that would enable labels & artists to get paid a "performance right" whenever a song gets played on traditional, over the air radio.

Independent Label 2008 Grammy Award Results