I guess I’ve been slackin’ a little on the updates, but I’ve got good alibis for anyone who needs one.

Dorothy has been adjusting to the freedom of healing at home, and now has a better understanding of her physical limitations. We’ve enjoyed a limited outing or two - one to the store, and another to the backyard for some sun and fun.

Beyond exploring physical limits, we’re marking abilities and progress as far as recovery from the injury to her brain. If you’ve spoken with her, you know she can carry on a reasonable conversation now, and has much better recall than this time a few weeks ago.

We are still developing a day-to-day schedule that allows her room for challenges and growth, while building in time to just heal. Dorothy still expresses some social anxieties, and is easily overwhelmed by tasks that were once second nature to her, but we’re hopeful those will continue to improve over time.

I don’t know who’s more tired at the end of the day, but I know we’re still in love, and God is still in control. That’s enough for me.

Dorothy made it back home today. Of course, she thinks that means back to the usual routine. It doesn’t.

We were released with a book full of cautions from the therapists and doctors alike, and Dorothy did her best to violate each of them from the time we hit the door until she hit the pillow for the night.

Before she went to bed, Dorothy complained that her leg was hurting and swollen. I politely pointed out that she had been up moving, gathering, and doing since she got home - while she had spent an equal amount of time in bed with her legs elevated just one day earlier.

I think she gets it now.

Anyway - praise God for His goodness, and certainly for His mercy. And thank YOU - her friends and family for approaching God on Dorothy’s behalf over the last month. Thank you also for the kind gestures - cards, letters, flowers, gifts and meals. They are very much appreciated, and demonstrated the Christ you proclaim in very practical ways.

A lot of friends have told me they’re praying for us and asked if there’s something specific they should ask God for. There is.

Physically, Dorothy is a fighter from day one. She overcame severe physical challenges as a child and went on the defy predictions as a cheerleader and more.

Today, her challenge is with learning to fight again. She is dealing with significant head trauma, and those injuries are running the show right now.

So - how to pray?

• Pray for healing for Dorothy’s brain injuries.
• Pray for the confusion and frustration that accompany those injuries to just go away.
• Pray she’ll take one more step and have a restful sleep tonight.

She loves the Lord, and He’s done a great deal already; with your prayers and His help, we’ll make the rest of this journey and touch the lives we’re supposed to in the process.

One hundred sixty-six members of the House have now signed on to support the Local Radio Freedom Act, a resolution introduced in October 2007 by Reps. Gene Green (D-TX) and Mike Conaway (R-TX).

The resolution reads, “Congress should not impose any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge relating to the public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station for broadcasting sound recordings over-the-air, or on any business for such public performance of sound recordings.” One hundred and five Republicans and 65 Democrats are now supporting the resolution.

Legislation that would impose performance royalties on broadcasters was introduced in the House by Reps. Howard Berman (D-CA) and Darrell Issa (D-CA) and in the Senate by Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) in December.

Tags: Broadcast, Broadcaster, Copyright, Issues, Legal, Legislation, Performance Rights, Radio, Record Industry

An article in the New York Times echoes CMR’s opinions that it’s the record labels, not the media that is the ultimate culprit behind the missing money in artists’ bank accounts.

After the settlement with Napster and others worth more than $270 million, the money has still not made its way from the labels to the makers of the music.

Read the Story

CMR Observation:

Told ya! It ain’t us that’s stealing. Take that, musicFIRST!

Tags: copyright, News, Performance, radio, rights, royalties, royalty

The NAB is using Valentine’s Day to call attention to the case it’s trying to make against performance royalties for broadcasters with an ad in Capitol Hill publications Roll Call, The Hill, and Politico highlighting the “love affair” between radio and the recording industry — as illustrated by quotes from label executives and recording artists.

The ad features a man and woman, both wearing headphones and kissing a radio. Under the headline “Love Affair,” the ad reads, “In honor of Valentine’s Day, we recognize the love affair between the recording industry and free, local radio.”

Beneath that are quotes from, among others, artist Alicia Keys, who at the recent Grammys thanked “every DJ, every radio guy, every promotions guy” as she accepted her award; RCA EVP/Promotion Richard Palmese, saying, “I’m a big, big fan of radio”; and MCA Records SVP Mark Wright, saying, “If a song’s not on the radio, it’ll never sell.”

The ad ends with the tag line “Preserve local radio. Fight the performance tax.” See it here (PDF link).

Tags: copyright, Performance, radio, rights, royalties, royalty

The age old relationship between recording companies and radio stations also received a plug from from Grammy-winner Alicia Keys, who used her acceptance speech to thank “every DJ, every radio guy…” (among others) who helped her along the path to success as a musician. Meanwhile, NAB reports that another group of lawmakers have signed on to the bipartisan Local Radio Freedom Act being championed in the House of Representatives by Gene Green (D-TX) and Mike Conaway (R-TX). The bill would head off attempts to impose performance royalties on broadcasters in recognition of the promotional value of free airplay of recorded music.

The newcomers, who bring the total number of backers to 148, include Charles Rangel (D-NY), Barbara Cubin (R-WY), Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL), John Linder (R-GA), Spencer Bachus (R-AL), Jon C. Porter (R-NV), Greg Walden (R-OR), Rodney Alexander (R-LA), Zach Wamp (R-TN), Thelma D. Drake (R-VA), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Roscoe G. Bartlett (R-MD), Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), Marilyn N. Musgrave (R-CO), Silvestre Reyes (D-TX), Gary G. Miller (R-CA), Tim Holden (D-PA), Frank D. Lucas (R-OK), Jim Gerlach (R-PA), Jim Matheson (D-UT), Thaddeus G. McCotter (R-MI) and Devin Nunes (R-CA).

Tags: copyright, Performance, radio, rights, royalties, royalty

After 15 years in the format as a local Christian station Crawford Broadcasting has flipped WRCI/Rochester (102.7 The Light) to adult standards/oldies. The sign off happened Saturday 2/9. Good news is the entire WRCI staff has been retained. The Christian format will continue as a HD-2 broadcast and also be streamed online.

WRCI-FM started in 1993 with programming of Bible teachings and some music and went to a more music-dominated format last April. However, GM Robert Hammond said, “it’s just not been a format supported by the advertising community or the church community,” prompting the decision by Crawford to change the format.

from HisAir.net Report

CMR Observation:

For a 15-year broadcaster to flip formats twice in 10 months says plenty. Support of Christian radio is closely related to the station’s image and presentation in the marketplace. If the sales staff thought selling a veteran station was difficult, wait until they hit the streets this week as an unproven entity.

Tags: christian, News, noncommercial, radio, streaming

Following the fire which destroyed the family home of Don Hughes, President/CEO of Great Plains Christian Radio, on January 6. He writes: “Sometimes you can make sense out of something like this if your experience can minister to someone else. My son did a music video in our living room just before the fire. The song is titled “Dim Glass Darkly” taken from 1 Corinthians, and is about searching to see God’s hand in our life. After the fire he went back and edited the video to include shots after the fire. Altogether it makes a powerful statement that I think can minister to people in the middle of a crisis in their life.”

You can see the video at this link: http://www.gabrielpeter.com

Tags: Broadcast, Broadcaster, Ministry, Radio

WIBI/Springfield/St Louis has hired GW Van Alstine as their new Promotions Director. GW was previously with Walt Disney Corporation and has extensive experience in marketing.

Station Manager Jeremiah Beck said “I am excited about the focused, new direction WIBI can take with GW at the helm of our branding and promotions, and in connecting listeners to the local church while re-connecting the local church to the community through broadcasting and multi-platform internet outlets. We’re called to love and serve our listeners as Christ leads - and God has brought us a servant leader to head up our efforts.”

Tags: Broadcast, Broadcaster, Ministry, Radio