Save Internet Radio!!

 March 02, 2007

If the RIAA and SoundExchangeget their way, independent webcasting / Internet radio will soon cease to exist.

Why? Earlier today, the Copyright Royalty Board, the group overseeing statutory licensing for US-based internet radio stations, announced the new royalty rates for streaming radio performance rights. The board rejected the arguments made by webcasters and instead chose to adopt the proposal put forth by industry-backed SoundExchange, a royalty fee collection agency created by the RIAA.

The new rates are based on “performances” of songs. A “performance” is defined as one song being streamed to a single listener. In other words, a station with 1000 listeners is charged for 1000 performances of each song it broadcasts.

Further, the new rates, just announced recently, are retroactive to 2006, and increase rapidly each year. The rates per performance are as follows: (go here for rest of the story)

Visit Save Internet Radio to show your unhappiness with these rate increases!  Save web radio!