»

[Stripey]

Create Digital Music » 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.

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.

This is just another example of music industry mafia attacking digital music distribution so they can get control of it, ala itunes...

[Alkaline]

If internet radio stations are subject to the same conditions as conventional 'broadcast' radio stations then i don't have a problem with it.

[RF Scott]

Originally Posted by Alkaline

If internet radio stations are subject to the same conditions as conventional 'broadcast' radio stations then i don't have a problem with it.

Northsound et al make money.
Some kids in college who is just spreading the word about artists who wouldn't otherwise get played on radio, and are subsisiding their pursuit (buying equipment, CDs etc) shouldn't be tarred with the same brush, so to speak.

[Stripey]

Originally Posted by Alkaline

If internet radio stations are subject to the same conditions as conventional 'broadcast' radio stations then i don't have a problem with it.

That's the problem, there will be a big imbalance in the rates terrestrial radio stations have to pay.

Terrestrial (AM/FM) radio pays nothing. Satellite radio pays about 3-7% of income. And yet online radio will be charged per listener, per song and will be subjected to fees regardless of proportionate income.

[Alkaline]

Originally Posted by RF Scott

Northsound et al make money.
Some kids in college who is just spreading the word about artists who wouldn't otherwise get played on radio, and are subsisiding their pursuit (buying equipment, CDs etc) shouldn't be tarred with the same brush, so to speak.

No, i disagree. They should both be treated the same as they are both doing the same thing and should incur the same fees for the performance rights of an artists songs.

Originally Posted by Stripey

That's the problem, there will be a big imbalance in the rates terrestrial radio stations have to pay.

You see that isn't fair. If terrestrial broadcasters have to pay nothing then internet broadcasters shouldn't have to pay either.

[RF Scott]

Originally Posted by Alkaline

No, i disagree. They should both be treated the same as they are both doing the same thing and should incur the same fees for the performance rights of an artists songs.

Its not really the same though, is it? The way you are looking at it is a bit black and white.

For instance, lets say a child care company operates a number of childcare facilities. It is a money making venture, set up to make money.

Now lets say that there is a community run childcare centre, which is run to provide a service, run by volunteers, non-profit.

Should they be fored to pay the same hypothetical childcare tax system, based on how many children they look after, how frequently, no matter what their income is?

If it wasn't for 'pirate' radio, things would be a lot different, without a doubt.

[Stripey]

Originally Posted by RF Scott

Northsound et al make money.
Some kids in college who is just spreading the word about artists who wouldn't otherwise get played on radio, and are subsisiding their pursuit (buying equipment, CDs etc) shouldn't be tarred with the same brush, so to speak.

Most of my favourite shoutcast stations are completely nonprofit and rely on donations to keep going, but still have a huge amount of listeners, and are run by people purely in it to spread the music.

It's disingenious to push these stations off the air, if anything they are increasing the likelyhood that an artist will get sales as people discover them through listening to the stream, being exposed to music they otherwise wouldn't hear on terrestrial radio.

[RF Scott]

Originally Posted by Stripey

Most of my favourite shoutcast stations are completely nonprofit and rely on donations to keep going, but still have a huge amount of listeners, and are run by people purely in it to spread the music.

It's disingenious to push these stations off the air, if anything they are increasing the likelyhood that an artist will get sales as people discover them through listening to the stream, being exposed to music they otherwise wouldn't hear on terrestrial radio.

Exactly.

[Alkaline]

Originally Posted by RF Scott

Its not really the same though, is it? The way you are looking at it is a bit black and white.

For instance, lets say a child care company operates a number of childcare facilities. It is a money making venture, set up to make money.

Now lets say that there is a community run childcare centre, which is run to provide a service, run by volunteers, non-profit.

Should they be fored to pay the same hypothetical childcare tax system, based on how many children they look after, how frequently, no matter what their income is?

If it wasn't for 'pirate' radio, things would be a lot different, without a doubt.

Eh? By those examples the community one would be subsidised by the government, so it's not a valid comparisson. Maybe internet radio should be subsidised too. A lot of internet broadcasters aren't non-profit, in fact there are probably more profit making internet broadcasters than non-profit.

If you want to get hypothetical: I pay National Insurance every month from my wages. I haven't been to the doctors in years yet i pay more than a junkie who is there every week for all sorts of 'treatments'. Is that fair?

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Alkaline

A lot of internet broadcasters aren't non-profit, in fact there are probably more profit making internet broadcasters than non-profit.

There aren't. Nowhere near.