In a move to make them even more popular, the RIAA is seeking to reduce the royalty rate paid to artists. The agreement signed in 1981 is good for 25 years and ends, oh, real soon now.

The Digital Music Weblog points out that "During the period when piracy was devastating the record industry, the RIAA argues, profits for publishers rose as revenue generated from ringtones and other innovative services grew. Record industry executives said there was nothing strange about seeking a rate change that would pay less to the people who write the music."

The RIAA companies are taking a significant hit from a number of vectors, not the least of which is piracy. Of course it can be argued that much of that piracy could have been avoided had the recording industry adopted new technology much quicker instead of relying on companies like Apple to drag them kicking and screaming into this connected age. The RIAA companies seek to offset some of this cost by reducing the already slim royalty payments made to the people who create the music we listen to.