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Ear to the Ground

Many Net Radio Stations Observe Day of Silence

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Posted on Jun 26, 2007

Because royalties for webcasters have been dramatically increased, many Internet radio sites have proclaimed Tuesday, June 26, a day of silence.  A recent ruling held that starting July 15, Web-based broadcasters must pay triple for royalties. 

Presumably this ruling was meant to protect the music industry.  It will end up costing Web broadcasters an extra $1 billion in administration fees.  As a result, many up-and-coming artists (who struggle to gain exposure on broadcast radio) will have increasing difficulty reaching a Web audience.  Online webcasters participating in the day of silence include Yahoo, Rhapsody and Pandora, among others.  Save Net Radio is spearheading this awareness campaign, hoping to draw attention to the damaging effect the rate hikes will have on Internet radio. 

Read more:
The Guardian: US web radio in silent protest
KCRW: D-Day for Webcasters

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By cyrena, June 27, 2007 at 5:27 am Link to this comment

I’m with you Rae, but the worry with THIS is, that sites like THIS VERY ONE, may be caught up in the same sweep that the rate hikes would have on other “radio net sound”.

In other words, will it cost truthdig, or Democracy Now, or Truthout, or any of the other indepedent media that we rely so heavily on for what the mainstream media has only grudgingly begun to offer us, any extra money to continue to provide their audio interviews, and other information that we aren’t likely to get, unless we can be a fly on the wall somewhere, (interesting ambition if we could count on returning from such a horrible reincarnation)or otherwise have real time access to what the hell is going on around here.

I guess my concern is that I don’t want this new legal finding to somehow be a way of applying a judicial ruling that has the effect of an economic lynching of ALL independent webcasters, thereby continuing to squash the voices of those people that we are able to hear from, through these webcasts.

These up and coming, (as well as a few recycled boomer voices with a lot of wisdom in them) are finding their space to “stamp out ignorance” via this webcasting technology. And, it’s been a salvation for many.

Admittedly, I haven’t read the entire ruling, so I don’t even know what the effect might be, but it sounds ominous. Then again, maybe I’m finally just giving-in to the paranoia of the times.

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By mahram, June 26, 2007 at 9:31 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Internet radio quality is just as good as what you hear over your car or home stereo radio. Also, you have more freedom of choice and aren’t limited as much when you have internet radio. Pandora is a great example of this.

I personally listen to KCRW and am VERY GLAD that internet radio exists for the simple fact that I’ve yet to find a radio station that has introduced me to SO MUCH great music as this one station.

Long live net radio!

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RAE's avatar

By RAE, June 26, 2007 at 9:06 pm Link to this comment

It’s beyond me how ANY of them make money even without a hike in royalty fees.

With all the sources for absolutely FREE sound (I reserve the term “music” for creations that are born of and performed by talented people, not just wannabees pounding out the same four chords on an overamplified guitar, confusing volume with quality) who in their right mind sits at their computer listening to garbage quality?

Not this kid. There are a million FREE FM stereo radio stations, as well as satellite radio, CDs and other sources. The internet is the LAST place I’d go for music.

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