Internet Radio Threatened By Huge Royalty Increases

Internet radio is in immediate danger of extinction, according to Save Net Radio, a coalition of artists, labels, listeners, and webcasters fighting to preserve the diversity of Internet radio. The group's blog is here.

Royalty rates for webcasters have been drastically increased by a recent ruling and are due to go into effect on July 15 (retroactive to Jan 1, 2006!). If the increased rates remain unchanged, the majority of webcasters will go bankrupt and silent on this date, according to the group's website.

The Internet Radio Equality Act has recently been introduced in both the House (H.R. 2060) and Senate (S. 1353) to save the Internet radio industry. Internet radio provides promotional and royalty opportunities to independent labels and artists that are not available to them on broadcast radio. Internet radio listenership increased over the past year, from 45 million to 72 million listeners a month. I'm listening to WBGO's internet stream on iTunes as I write.

The site has instructions about how to contact your Congressperson and Senators. Contact yours!

Oh, B.L., you would have to turn me on to another jazz feed on the Internet. I'm already suffering from an embarrassment of riches in this regard. But I'm always open to more good jazz. Thank you!

Embarrassment of riches, indeed!

Only to happy to riff my Congressional folks in support.
Thanks for the heads up!

Now, B.L. See what you've started....

Oh, wait, that's the idea.