Internet Radio Stations Go Silent in Protest
Popular web-based music services and some traditional radio stations that offer Internet audio streams are set to shut off their online programming until midnight tonight to protest the outrageous rates recently set by the Copyright Royalty Board in Washington, D.C.
The Plan
Organizers are calling it Day of Silence and are hoping it will focus attention on a royalty-fee increase that many Internet-based broadcasters say could drive them out of business. The new rates are will go into effect July 15, unless the US Congress makes some radical changes to the legislation.
Forcing an Industry into Bankruptcy
The BBC reports that the new legislation "could cost webcasters around $1Billion in additional administration fees, protesters claim".
The increases could represent a 300% rise in current payments and the plan is to eventually charge royalties every time an online listener hears a song.
The Players
The new rates were set by the Copyright Royalty Board in Washington, D.C.
In the BBC report, Kim Roberts Hedgpeth of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) said the new payments rewarded the "creativity, talent and hard work" of musicians.
Participants in the event include such online-only music services as Pandora, Live365 and Real Networks' Rhapsody, as well as radio stations such as WAMU in Washington and KCRW, based in Santa Monica, Calif. One notable service sitting out the protest, according to organizers, is AOL Radio.
Comments
Copyright Royalty Board, emphasis on the Royalty. Acting like British royalty of yore, taxing the life out of the peasants.
Posted by: JR | June 29, 2007 1:16 PM
Here we go - now, we can still use sound effects and street noises - but music unless licensed is out of the window for the time being.
I can't even hum a tune and not get slapped.
You betcha the RIAA and others will be issuing cease and desist orders and or bills for past infringements.
What's left - some form of talk radio on the Internet. Well, it can be sparkling and fun - but it will wear out in time.
Work as voiceover talent? - we can still voice commercials designed for the net as long as its over copyright free music. Go check your contract on that buyout music set of CDs you bought.... if the words aren't written in your usage agreement for the music. Ooops.
Happy sound of talking, talking, talking and that's all we can tell you at the moment....
As Brit Abroad in the US I can only agree - it is tax without fair return on the payment.
Posted by: Brian | June 29, 2007 6:40 PM
As long as the artists actually being played get the royalties collected I think it is fair enough.
If you ever get a chance to see a breakdown of a performing rights assoc. balance sheet of who receives the royalties let me know...please, I am very curious.
Artists deserve to get paid, but only if the right artists are getting paid. I believe its just another scheme pushed by top 20 pop focused labels and publishers to increase revenue because of p2p.
My two or three cents worth.
Posted by: Steve Asplin | June 29, 2007 7:26 PM