if you care AT ALL about internet radio:

alpha zygote · #1 06-30-2007, 06:18 PM

you may have heard a little about the 'Day of Silence' that broadcasters participated in on June 26th.

that recent decision by the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) in the U.S. not only more than doubles the royalties paid on songs, it also makes no distinction, unlike all decisions before it, between public non-commercial radio and commercial radio. royalties are paid on a flat per song per listener basis and many smaller internet stations will be forced to shut down for good when this legislation takes effect on July 15th, and retroactively penalizes stations back until Jan 1st, 2006.

the Internet Radio Equality Act supports the need for multiple licensing levels along the lines of the ones that currently exist. from National Public Radio:

On Friday, March 2, 2007, the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) released a decision that will dramatically increase the royalties payments owed to rights holders to stream sound recordings of music offered on the internet. This includes public radio websites. Responding to requests from several parties (including NPR, representing public radio), the Board then granted a rehearing on this issue, with written arguments due on April 2.

The decision by the CRB affects all public radio stations because it:

* Eliminates the distinction between noncommercial and commercial media
* Requires complicated record-keeping that will place a huge burden on stations
* Penalizes public radio for fulfilling its statutorily-mandated mission of bringing new, culturally enriching programming to the American public
* Sets a chilling precedent for future rights discussions, negotiations and litigation that may undermine non-commercial public service programming

links:
Tell Them Public Matters - Radio
Online-Radio Royalty Fight Reaches New Pitch - WSJ.com
FMC | Statement on Webcasting Rates
Savenetradio.org
News: Higher Music Royalty Rates — KCRW | 89.9FM

to support the Internet Radio Equality Act click here to personalize a letter to your representatives in congress, or write your local representatives

sallydearheart · #2 07-01-2007, 09:50 AM

if i was american i'd do that

sssh · #3 07-01-2007, 09:56 AM

Rubbish! Shame non-US people can't do anything about it - it seems silly that we can't, when it's not just American people who listen to American internet radios. That doesn't happen with normal radio, so why should it happen with internet?

Will it happen with last.fm, and will that mean we'll have to pay for it? Does anyone know?

makeup rat · #4 07-01-2007, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sssh

Rubbish! Shame non-US people can't do anything about it - it seems silly that we can't, when it's not just American people who listen to American internet radios. That doesn't happen with normal radio, so why should it happen with internet?

Will it happen with last.fm, and will that mean we'll have to pay for it? Does anyone know?

read this: make some noise

spasmachine · #5 07-01-2007, 11:05 AM

Wow. Is this for real? They're like a supply teacher that's lost control of the class.