MUSIC EXECS STORM WASHINGTON

Victorious in its fight against Napster, the major record companies have descended upon Washington in an effort to keep Congress out of the struggle for dominance in the online music arena.

The music labels are lobbying lawmakers to stay out of the digital-music fight while they roll out their own competing online services, The Wall Street Journal reports, adding that the labels' efforts are working so far.

The paper says congressional leaders say they want consumers to have more ways to hear songs online, but they aren't ready to force the record companies to license their songs for downloading—a move that some Internet companies say may be necessary for a level playing field. Instead, lawmakers plan to keep a spotlight on the issue by holding hearings and publicly urging the labels to move ahead quickly on their own services.

Changing laws that affect online music would be "like trying to hit a very fast-moving target," said Virginia Rep. Robert Goodlatte, a GOP member of the House Judiciary Committee and Co-Chairman of the Congressional Internet Caucus.

The labels, in response to the threat of government intervention, are making their voices heard, telling lawmakers the companies are already moving to offer their songs online and don't need any new laws.

"Record companies have gotten the message loud and clear from our consumers that they want music online, and we're giving it to them," Hilary Rosen, President/CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America, told the Journal.

Many prominent music executives have already or are expected to meet with key players in the Capitol.