NMPA's Israelite slams Pandora

CHEAP TRICK? The accusations are flying in the music industry’s offensive against Pandora by the music biz. Last night, NMPA CEO David Israelite interrupted his state-of-the-industry speech at the org's annual meeting in Manhattan to lash out at the Internet radio service’s decision to acquire a radio station in South Dakota (see 6/12 item below). "Pandora is going to pursue lawsuits and gimmicks," Israelite told the hundreds of songwriters and composers in attendance. "Pandora is hoping to fraudulently sneak in the back door. Any shred of credibility that Pandora had is gone. They are at war with songwriters." As Greg Sandoval helpfully points out on The Verge, the lawsuit that Israelite was referring to is the complaint Pandora filed in November against ASCAP alleging that the PRO overcharges the company. (6/13a)