RIAA tries to cheat songwriters

Mechanical royalties are a weird special case where you can essentially record any song you like. You don't need the songwriter's permission, you don't need to negotiate a fee to do so. You can just pay a price set by Congress.

Now that RIAA is asking that these mechanical royalties be lowered. The RIAA is asking for the law to change so they can pay songwriter's less. Assuming the RIAA members are on good terms with the songwriters this is unnecessary; it's standard practice to arrange a better rate through negotiations. Apparently these negotiations are too much work and the RIAA wants the government to dictate a maximum rate price songwriters can charge for their music.

Keep that in mind when the RIAA whines about needing more powerful copyright or no more music will be created. They are lying. It if was true, why are try trying to reduce copyright's power for the people who actually write the music? This isn't about music, this is about simple greed: the RIAA wants more copyright when it makes them money, but they'd prefer less if it costs them money.

Mechanical copyright is actually a good idea; it means that a songwriter can't "horde" his music. However, the mechanical rates should be carefully set relatively high to encourage people to negotiate with the songwriter. This is outright asking the government for a handout of someone else's work. The RIAA acts in bad faith and cannot be trusted.