Create Digital Music ยป May 15 Could be End of Internet Radio; US Legislation to Intervene
American legislation is going to force independant streamed radio stations off the air.
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The clock is ticking for Internet radio, from public broadcasting streams from stations like KCRW to Internet-only streaming services like Pandora. The Copyright Royalties Board recently approved new rates and restrictions that would increase costs for streamers by three to twelve times their previous rate. This month, the CRB rejected an appeal by broadcasters to reconsider the rates. As a result, by May 15 streamers will have to not only begin paying the 2007 rate but also back-dated royalties going back to the beginning of 2006. Without changes to the rules, many stations will simply shutter on the 15th of May.
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This is just another example of music industry mafia attacking digital music distribution so they can get control of it, ala itunes...