Can Congress can save the indies from piracy? Or, should groups like A2IM be focusing more on innovating online than stumping on Capitol Hill?

Worth debating, though A2IM actually has a few irons in the legislative fire. A2IM chief Rich Bengloff is actively campaigning for a royalty on recordings played by American radio stations, a longshot that could bring billions in fresh revenues into recording industry coffers.

Sounds worth it, though Bengloff is unabashedly against unauthorized file-sharing and its effect on recorded valuations. On that issue, the indie (and unsigned) community itself is fairly divided, though A2IM is now calling for an urgent letter-writing campaign to curb illegal swapping. “We need a game changer!” a letter from A2IM to various industry stakeholders proclaimed on Wednesday. “Music revenues continue to shrink and good people – including too many passionate independent music lovers – continue to lose jobs.”