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JesterDJ
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
1,486 posts
Joined: Apr, 2003
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 Posted - 2007/03/18 : 22:02:27
Ladies and Gents.
I know i rarely post nowadays and i apologise for that. Life's hectic what can i say. anyway i just saw this. (Courtesy of http://www.Intenseradio.co.uk)
Internet Radio under attack!!
As some of you may have already heard, the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) has decided to adopt the new per performance royalty rates put forth by SoundExchange. These will be applied retrospectively to 2006. The royalty rates are as follows:
2006: $0.0008
2007: $0.0011
2008: $0.0014
2009: $0.0018
2010: $0.0019
This equates to an increase over the existing rate ($0.000762) of 5%, 44%, 84%, 136%, and 149% respectively. This WILL take the majority of internet radio stations in the US off the air. Add to this a $500 minimum fee per channel per year, and there goes the twist of the knife.
Live365 (who supply bandwidth for IntenseRadio.co.uk) have many thousands of stations broadcasting through them, and are the largest radio network in the world. They allow small, independent stations to broadcast without having to take out a second mortgage. The price hike will add an extra $5m per year purely on the minimum fee per channel. Unless something is done to stop these new rates coming in then Live365 will have no choice but to raise it's fees. Either way, this will take many of (to my mind) the greatest radio stations off the air. Gone will be the variety and eclecticism of the current internet radio community, and all that will be left will be mind-numbing commercial tripe aimed at getting as many listeners as possible so that they can sell advertising to pay their royalty bill.
The good news is that the Digital Media Association (DiMA) is filing for a motion for rehearing with the CRB. The DiMA consists of many big-hitters, including Live365, Yahoo!, AOL, MTV, Pandora, and Real. The motion will be submitted on Monday, March 19th.
In the meantime, what can you do? Well, first off, if you live in the States, please email, call and write to your Congressional Representative / Senator stating that you don't support the current rate decision (see http://www.savenetradio.org for a sample letter). Secondly, you can sign a petition http://www.petitiononline.com/SIR2007r/petition.html . The RIAA has run roughshod over minority music for some time, but the fact is that we DO have a voice, and we should be using it to shout our frustrations as loudly as we can.
I will personally be doing everything I can to fight this decision, and gain as much support as I can from within the industry. Please feel free to contact us here at the station with any questions, suggestions or just support. Every little bit helps. I refuse to let the music I listen to be censored in this way.
Thanks.
Underloop and the IntenseRadio.co.uk Staff
Guys please if you see this tonight (Sunday 18th march) please sign the petition email your congressmen if you live in the US (as outlined above).
Nuff said. thanks guys  hope your all well!!!
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JESTER, n. An officer formerly attached to a king's household, whose business it was to amuse the court by ludicrous actions and utterances, the absurdity being attested by his motley costume.
Help your favourite charity for free - www.everyclick.com
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Chris B
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
3,964 posts
Joined: Dec, 2003
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 Posted - 2007/03/19 : 00:59:09
Look who it isnt, hows tricks jester lad.
Since when did internet radio get charged cash, **** the authorities underground is the sound.
Catch you when your back from holiday bud
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once again back is the incredible, rhyme animal, incredible
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Underloop
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
3,895 posts
Joined: Mar, 2002
91 hardcore releases
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Posted - 2007/03/22 : 13:25:15
Cheers for posting this Jester!
Its a serious issue Chris. Fair enough, everyone could broadcast sans-licence, but before long the authorities (especially stateside) would clamp down big time in the same way they do to the parents of autistic children downloading nursery rhymes.
This isn't just a small-time issue either. It would take many thousands of stations off the air, and the costs would soar up for others - including DI.fm. If this decision isn't reversed in the upcoming hearing then the face of internet radio could change forever, and not for the better.
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"We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing."
- George Bernard Shaw
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