On Friday March 2nd 2007, the Copyright Royalty Board announced new royalty rates for Internet Radio stations. The new rates are far higher than any industry experts expected. In fact, if they remain unchanged, bankruptcy looms for many online radio
stations. The rates are retroactive to January of 2006.

The new rates essentially levy a tax of $0.0011 per performance. Now,
that doesn’t sound bad does it. But consider this. Each hour, the
average radio station plays 16 songs. So that’s about 1.76c per hour,
per listener. A station with 500 listener average would be hit with fees
of $211 per day, $6,336 a month or $76,000 a year.

This amount of money is beyond the resources of all but the very
wealthiest of corporations. Many of the internet radio stations are run
by enthusiasts and hobbyists. These small stations are the ones bringing
new music, and old favorites to you every day. Music you can’t hear on
corporate-owned terrestrial stations.

Could this be the day the music died?

What can you do

If you enjoy internet radio, you need to make your feelings known right
now to your representatives in the Congress and Senate. Write to them
and ask them to help repeal the decision of March 2nd by the Copyright
Royalty Board.  It only takes a couple of minutes.

Congress: http://www.house.gov/writerep/

Senate: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

More background on this decision

http://www.digmedia.org/docs/Press%20Release%2010-31-05.pdf

http://www.digmedia.org/docs/CRB%20Arbitration%20FAQ.pdf

http://www.kurthanson.com/archive/news/030207/index.shtml

Broadcastlawblog: http://www.savenetradio.org/archive.htm

Broadcasters: Go Here and join the cause http://webcastersunite.net

There are lots more downloadsWe support royalty payments to compensate artists for their works. We do not support being forced to pay twice as much as any other form of media.

We support royalty payments to compensate artists for their works. We do not support being forced to pay twice as much as any other form of media.The RIAA is trying to shut down Internet radio. Visit www.savenetradio.org and write your Senator today before it’s too late. Don’t let your musical choices be determined by large corporate interests.

*Those of us who have legal Internet radio stations (like PlanetSoul Radio) already pay a minimum of $36.00 per month to Loud City, Live365, or some other broadcast network to cover royalties to be paid to artists played on our stations. If this amount increases, most of us will be forced to shut down our commercial-free, 24/7 Internet radio stations, which play music you won’t hear on commercial radio stations.*