Roger Waters, David Gilmour and Nick Mason, the three surviving members of Pink Floyd, joined to write an op-ed slamming Internet radio service Pandora for trying to cut artists’ royalty rates with the support of artists. The group says that Pandora is tricking musicians into supporting its efforts.

USA Today published the piece by the Dark Side of the Moon band. It comes while Pandora is trying to get Congress to approve legislation to cut royalty rates for artists. Pandora is asking for the rate to be cut by 85 percent, just like a similar campaign last year. That campaign failed, as over 100 major artists - Pink Floyd included - wrote a letter opposing it.

According to Rolling Stone, Pandora is using a new tactic, getting artists to sign a general letter in support of Internet radio. But Pink Floyd says that Pandora is leaving out information on the 85 percent pay cut.

“Of course, this letter doesn't say anything about an 85% artist pay cut,” the group wrote. “That would probably turn off most musicians who might consider signing on. All it says about royalties is ‘We are all fervent advocates for the fair treatment of artists.’ And the only hint of Pandora's real agenda is the innocent sounding line ‘We are also fervent supporters of internet radio and want more than anything for it to grow.’ The petition doesn't mention that Pandora is pushing the growth of its business directly at the expense of artists' paychecks.”

They continued, “Fine print is one thing. But a musician could read this ‘letter of support’ a dozen times and hold it up to a funhouse mirror for good measure without realizing she was signing a call to cut her own royalties to pad Pandora's bottom line.”

Pandora has been fighting what it considers an unfair royalty rate for over a year. Its most recent publicity grab came earlier this month when it bought a Rapid City, South Dakota terrestrial station just to try to lower its royalty rate.

Pink Floyd noted that Pandora’s business is still growing, but noted, “a business that exists to deliver music can't really complain that its biggest cost is music.”

In conclusion, the group said that it hopes that Pandora can work something out, “But tricking artists into signing a confusing petition without explaining what they are really being asked to support only poisons the well.”

image: Amazon