Internet Radio

[Uni]

Just got a few messages from Loudcity, apparently streaming royalty fees are going through the roof;

 

Subject LoudCity needs your help

 

Hi, it's Justin from LoudCity,

 

Today LoudCity, and many other online broadcasters, is going off-air in observance of a Day of Silence. We are doing this to bring to your attention a disastrous situation that threatens the existence of LoudCity and all of internet radio. We need your help.

 

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!). LoudCity's fees will be too high for us to continue operating. Left unchanged by Congress, every day will be like today as internet radio sites start shutting down and the music dies.

 

A bill has been introduced in congress called the Internet Radio Equality Act that will fix this problem. We would like to ask you to call your Congressional Representatives today and ask them to support the Internet Radio Equality Act. Click the link below for instructions how:

 

http://capwiz.com/saveinternetradio

 

Your call will make a difference.

 

If you want to learn more about the issue kcrw is airing a one-hour looped program all day on the subject.

 

Thank you!

 

Subject URGENT

 

Hello LoudCity member,

 

IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED

 

The U.S. Court of Appeals DENIED the emergency stay requested by webcasters.

 

UNLESS CONGRESS ACTS BY JULY 15th, it is the end of the road for Internet radio.

 

This situation is grave, but that makes the message all the simpler and most serious. CALL YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES RIGHT AWAY and urge them to support the "Internet Radio Equality Act." Even if your senator or representatives have already co-sponsored it is urgent that you call. If they've already co-sponsored, thank them and tell them to fight to bring the bill to the floor for an immediate vote. If the line is busy, call back. Call until you know your voice has been heard. Your voices are what have gotten us this far -- Congress has listened. Now, they are our only hope.

 

TELL THEM.

 

We are outmatched by lobbying power and money but we are NOT outmatched by facts and passion and the power of our voices.

 

http://www.savenetradio.org

 

(please disregard this if you're outside the U.S.)

[Tugger]

There was an article about this in The Economist recently:

 

http://www.economist.com/business/displays...FTOKEN=70221863

[Deejay Denzel]

This doesn't really apply in the UK, PRS set the fee for broadcasting music online (music from artists which have signed upwith PRS, which is 99% of popular artists) and includes the Isle of Man.

 

Some services offer a set fee which covers your PRS license and a set number of streams, if you stream from your own servers.. it is then up to you to get your license.

 

This here is a good resource for small internet radio stations... Click Here

[ai_Droid]

This doesn't really apply in the UK, PRS set the fee for broadcasting music online (music from artists which have signed upwith PRS, which is 99% of popular artists) and includes the Isle of Man.

 

Doesn't it complicate things if you have US listeners though? Does this mean the us live streaming stations are all going to move offshore?

[Albert Tatlock]

Where can I find my congressman? I can only find ex taxi drivers, electricians, nurses and a chimney sweep in my phone book.

[Tempus Fugit]

Where can I find my congressman? I can only find ex taxi drivers, electricians, nurses and a chimney sweep in my phone book.

 

 

you're looking in the wrong list, that's the MHK's Albert

[Deejay Denzel]

This doesn't really apply in the UK, PRS set the fee for broadcasting music online (music from artists which have signed upwith PRS, which is 99% of popular artists) and includes the Isle of Man.

 

Doesn't it complicate things if you have US listeners though? Does this mean the us live streaming stations are all going to move offshore?

 

The whole licensing thing is under the spotlight at the minute, they are trying to clamp down so you can only listen to radio stations in your region unless you pay for a premium subscription which will cover costs for stations wanting to broadcast outside of their permitted zone.

It's down to some artists being registered for royalties in one country but being played out in another.

 

It's a bit like itunes, they can't sell songs that are available through licence in america to UK registered users if the song is not available in the UK.

 

some of the big groups in the UK are now asking people to register before they can listen, Galaxy for one, I just listen via sky now... even though we are eligable in the Isle of Man, I can't be arsed signining up.