iNet radios go offline on a protest
The attempt of US government to make internet radios pay for their air time face a first huge wave of resistance. So far, 45 radio stations representing thousands of channels have agreed to go silent or play a series of public service announcements to fight against a ruling made by the U.S. Copyright Royalty Board last March that raises royalty payments by 300 to 1,200 per cent, retroactive to June 2006. The ruling, which will go into effect on July 15, is expected to cost large webcasters such as Yahoo and Real Networks millions of dollars, drive smaller websites like Pandora.com and Live365.com out of business and leave a large chunk of the 72 million Net radio listeners in the dark. The protest could have a sizable effect on millions of Internet listeners.
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. 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. Do we really need to pay for everything in this crazy age?
Comments(22)
the RIAA lobby is too strong to counter. i doubt there will be any changes. R.I.P pandora.com and shoutcast.com
I don’t know what to say as it’s been kept quiet here in Houston but I strongly oppose the government’s move to roll back the dates for fines and penalties while they do nothing with oil companies and insurance lobby…. saying that by allowing companies to buy RX in bulk is wrong…
I am just sick of what’s been going on here and abroad….
I hope this doesn’t happen. If it does I’ll have to rip some music from SkY and DI before they go off air.
hmm i dont listen to online music but hey this sucks.
I’m so happy that I don’t live in the US, since it seems pretty much anything can be made possible with a little lobbying (I’m sure that happens in many other countries too). RIAA are especially bad and their rulings affect other countries as well unfortunately. They don’t understand that hearing the song, no matter if it’s on the radio or on the internet, promotes that song for free.
no shit
its not even like the artist r getting the money, its the freakin government and whoever else?
its bullshit
i should add tho if these online radio stations r making money off the music they play by whtever means, yes pay royalities otherwse no..
Personally I would just do the right thing and not fucking pay RIAA or SoundExchange. If everyone just refuses to do it then it won’t happen. Persistent ignorance of ridiculous bullshit is one of mankind’s strongest assets.
I love to listen to online music, so this does suck a lot. Hope they online radio industry wins!
Typical shit from profiteers.
@blunden, I think one of the primary concerns was about international listeners, not the domestic market. I believe something like this is also the same reason network stations in the US don’t allow international streams for their online content. Such as full episode playback of on NBC’s Heroes 360 page (granted, there are ways to circumvent that XD).
At least that’s what I remember reading a couple months ago, so I could be completely wrong.
Well im not surprised with this kind of news since pretty much all americans in power are greedy and didnt finished high school being the front man bush and following, they are getting closer to china government policies against the internet use,
He is right.they act like it so sweet but everthing cost more and more but where the money go? The day of pay for this and that is over!
The poor of the U.S.A are not as greeedy but the higher ups change the lawws in there favor.NO elected person get charged with lieing that some bull****
Pandora Project is a sweet site with a great concept – will be a bit gutted when it’s gone.
dont you just hate these greedy fat S**** with all there money
but thats not enuff for them thay have to take wot little we have and make us pay more and more we should not be scared of the rich thay should be scared of us. true power is in the hands of the masses
Eat the rich
So this means I’m gonna listen to Euro-Trance or Techno from now on?
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