I meant to post about this earlier, but I forgot.
Recently there was a ruling by the Copyright Royalty Board to raise internet radio royalty rates between 300 and 1200 percent over the next few years. Obviously this is a huge jump and to make matters worse it is retroactive to January 2006.
For most internet radio stations and other webcasters this will mean immediate bankruptcies and an end to their transmissions.
This is not a plea to stop compensating artists, but simply to find a fair deal for everyone. The new rates are double the satellite radio rate; which suggests that the RIAA is out to destroy internet radio.
We need to do all we can to support the diversity of Internet radio. Millions of Americans enjoy, some might say depend on, internet radio each day. If this ruling is allowed to stand, internet radio will become just another tool for the big music companies to push their music on us. Is that the kind of internet radio you want? I know I don't.
So here's the petition. Go sign it, and if you feel particularly feisty, print out a letter and mail it. Please join the fight for the preservation of Internet radio.
Thanks,
-Lewis
PS - It's Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry's. Oh, and your taxes are due, or not.
6 comments:
Funny stuff about not filing your taxes if you owe. I'm going to go reorganize my shoelace collection right now....
Lew,
I definitely signed the petition! A number of internet radio stations have already closed down because of the EXISTING fees, and now they're thinking of raising them! By the way, there's a great list of internet radio stations still operating at www.mikesradioworld.com.
Lew,
Right after I signed the petition and posted the above comment, I realized that we may be too late. See www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/internet/04/17/internetradio.ap/index.html.
That setback is unfortunate, but that is why they are doing the petition. They want to gather enough support to put their own law on the books that will put a stop to this kind of predatory rate hike.
Count Old Cousin Mike as a signer of the petition. I am listening to Pandora as I type
I will try and sign the petition, too.
My favorite is Big Blue Radio - their signature is classic rock for classic minds and it is not your usual classics. Alot of songs, groups and singers that I have not heard before. Makes me spend way too much time on the computer.
Your mother in Virginia
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