SaveNetRadio.org need your help

[mogster]

The SaveNetRadio Coalition

The future of Internet radio is in immediate danger. 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!). Webcasters across the country participated in a national Day of Silence this week to increase awareness about this looming threat and gather support for the SaveNetRadio collation and our campaign to preserve music diversity on-line. The Internet Radio Equality Act is currently being considered by both the House and the Senate. This bill will set royalty rates for Internet radio equal to the royalty rate paid by satellite radio, and has gained over 120 cosponsors in the House.

Internet radio needs your help to survive. We need you to pressure your representatives in Congress to take action. Please take a moment to call your Congressional representatives in the House and Senate to ask them to co-sponsor the Internet Radio Equality Act. Making your voice heard will go a long way to helping preserve the Internet radio industry. Time is running short, so please call your representatives today.

http://www.savenetradio.org/

[truedelphi]

1. What is going on in Congress? First they tamper with the mailing rates

Penalizing the small preses and publishers.

Nowthey tamper with internet radio.

On the other hand - would it not be great if the internet radio stations setup contests to have local musicians be on the play list?

Exposure for the unknowns - and I can't say that I would miss too many of the current crop of music "stars"

[Elspeth]

2. kick

:kick:

[RestoreGore]

3. This is a blatant attempt to stifle freedom on the Internet

If they get this they will only go further regarding the Internet. Recommended.

[Breeze54]

4. July 15 -- The Day the Music DIES!!!

Protest will silence some online music

http://www.boston.com/business/personaltech/articles/2007/06/25/protest_will_silence_some_online_music/

Participants upset about plan to increase fees to recording companies, musicians

By Hiawatha Bray, Globe Staff | June 25, 2007


A swath of the Internet is set to go silent tomorrow, as online music broadcasters shut down to protest a plan that will sharply increase the royalties they pay to recording companies and musicians.

"We're pulling our streams on Tuesday as a way to increase the public awareness of this situation," said Phil Redo, vice president and general manager of the five Boston radio stations owned by Greater Media Inc. in Braintree. Redo and others who stream music over the Internet hope their "day of silence" will prompt listeners to lobby Congress in support of pending legislation to overturn the royalty hike.

The protest could have a sizable effect on millions of Internet listeners. In addition to Greater Media, Internet giant Yahoo Inc. will shut down about 200 channels of free Internet music , as will Live365, which carries about 10,000 channels. In addition, a host of smaller online broadcasters are set to participate. Listeners who visit a favorite online broadcaster will be directed to Web pages listing contact information for members of Congress. Instead of their favorite tunes, they'll hear an announcement urging them to fight the royalty increase.

"I just hope that it creates one final push of momentum . . . and it really lets Congress know that it's a dire situation," said Justin Savage, founder of LoudCity, an Internet music streaming company in Somerville that supports about 525 online channels. Savage said that his two-year-old start - up company would be forced out of business by the royalty rate hike.

But a spokesman for SoundExchange, the music-industry organization that collects the Internet royalties, scoffed at the lobbying effort. Richard Ades said big, profitable companies like Yahoo and Time Warner Inc.'s AOL network can afford to pay a fair price for the music they stream, and that SoundExchange has proposed a less expensive plan for smaller Internet broadcasters.

The Internet music royalty dispute began in March, when three federal judges appointed by Congress decided on a big increase, retroactive to 2006. Broadcasters will have to pay 5 percent more in music royalties for this year and last, and further hikes of 20 percent per year for the next three years. The new rates are supposed to take effect by mid-July.

More.......

:kick: & Recommended!

[mogster]

5. Thanks! And thanks, all others too

Important to ensure that internet streaming radio can continue.

I hope the net broadcasters will try out some of the (more or less) royalty free archives that exists out there instead of going silent. There sure must be more of these archives around? I get such a kick out of the indie-movement, it has everything the commercial music business lack; suc as free downloads ;-)
Here's an example from Jeremy, with an actual catch phrase: Make Love not War.mp3


So, how nice is it to be able to download songs like this, right away? No ads, no hassle or nags, just straight to the mp3-file.
This is what music should be like, free and available.