In european countries (Score 1)

I think, this may not be so bad, as you guys see it. Here in Hungary
this "levy" is already introduced, and we are paying it for a few years now on every blank media,
even on memory cards! But in exchange, it is _not_ illegal to download music (donno about movies).
It is perfectly legal for me to download as much music as I like, more so, it is even legal for me
to share my music. I think it is a good compromise, the way "culture" should be handled.

As for distribution. There is of course an organization much like RIAA, who would like to keep
the levy, but take away the freedom to download/share at the same time. They are also the ones
handling the money from this levy. They basically calculate a number for _registered_ artists
based on CD sales, number of gigs, exposure in media, etc, and distribute the money according to
this number. Of course, the ones who get the money this way, are the ones marketed to death by this
organization themselves... Local independent musicians wouldn't get anything this way,
even if they registered (which itself costs some money).