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Internet Radio in trouble

edit David Janes 2007-04-18 19:35 UTC 3 comments  ·  ·

As a Canadian, I don't have a congressional representative but maybe you do. Here's a message from Pandora's founder Tim Westergren that showed up in my e-mail today:

I'm writing today to ask for your help.  The survival of Pandora and all of Internet radio is in jeopardy because of a recent decision by the Copyright Royalty Board in Washington, DC to almost triple the licensing fees for Internet radio sites like Pandora.  The new royalty rates are irrationally high, more than four times what satellite radio pays, and broadcast radio doesn't pay these at all.  Left unchanged, these new royalties will kill every Internet radio site, including Pandora.
In response to these new and unfair fees, we have formed the SaveNetRadio Coalition, a group that includes listeners, artists, labels and webcasters.  I hope that you will consider joining us.
Please sign our petition urging your Congressional representative to act to save Internet radio: http://capwiz.com/saveinternetradio/issues/alert/?alertid=9631541
Please feel free to forward this link/email to your friends - the more petitioners we can get, the better.
Understand that we are fully supportive of paying royalties to the artists whose music we play, and have done so since our inception.  As a former touring musician myself, I'm no stranger to the challenges facing working musicians.  The issue we have with the recent ruling is that it puts the cost of streaming far out of the range of ANY webcaster's business potential.
I hope you'll take just a few minutes to sign our petition - it WILL make a difference. As a young industry, we do not have the lobbying power of the RIAA. You, our listeners, are by far our biggest and most influential allies.
As always, and now more than ever, thank you for your support.

Comment #1mike

2007-04-18 22:13:23

You know and please check this out the rates also include a payment from speech stations so they have to pay royalties for music they DONT play.

Comment #2SebastianGrey

2007-07-14 23:57:19

I have submitted this to DIGG.com so everyone start Digging and we can get this message to millions. RIAA can not win this one.

Comment #3DJ-Toxigenic

2007-09-18 00:56:23

" As a Canadian, I don't have a congressional representative"

Pretty much ALL Countries have a US Embassy  including Canada..

They Represent the US...

You DO have someone to call and email ....

YOUR US Embassy in your Province and or Country.

Best of Luck to You ...

Let your listeners Know  to Contact their  Embassies..

DJ-Toxigenic

RoadsEndRadio

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