After lobbying Congress to cut the royalty rates it has to pay artists, Pandora’s attempts to make amends with artists appear to be backfiring. The Oakland-based internet radio company’s most recent enemies? Roger Waters, David Gilmour, and Nick Mason, the three remaining members of Pink Floyd.
More than 130 artists, including Pink Floyd, united to oppose Pandora’s bill, which did not move past the committee stage. Now, Pandora founder Tim Westergren is apparently trying to damage control by sending emails to musicians asking them to “be part of a conversation” and sign a “letter of support” for Internet radio. Pink Floyd fired back with an op-ed in USA Today, which argues that Pandora is “trying to trick artists” into supporting a pay cut.