NPR To Take On RIAA Over Internet Radio Hikes

[DudeAsInCool]

Steve Johnson, who writes the Web column for the Chicago Tribute, notes that NPR is about to take up the cause for internet radio. NPR's Communication VP Andi Sporkin has declared war on the RIAA:

"This is a stunning, damaging decision for public radio and its commitment to music discovery and education, which has been part of our tradition for more than half a century. Public radio's agreements on royalties with all such organizations, including the RIAA, have always taken into account our public service mission and non-profit status. These new rates, at least 20 times more than what stations have paid in the past, treat us as if we were commercial radio - although by its nature, public radio cannot increase revenue from more listeners or more content, the factors that set this new rate. Also, we are being required to pay an internet royalty fee that is vastly more expensive than what we pay for over-the-air use of music, although for a fraction of the over-the-air audience.

Keep reading it gets meaner...

"This decision penalizes public radio stations for fulfilling their mandate, it penalizes emerging and non-mainstream musical artists who have always relied on public radio for visibility and ultimately it penalizes the American public, whose local station memberships and taxes will be necessary to cover the millions of dollars that will now be required as payment. On behalf of the public radio system, NPR will pursue all possible action to reverse this decision, which threatens to severely reduce local stations' public service and limit the reach of the entire music community. NPR will begin on Friday, March 16 by filing a petition for reconsideration with the CRB panel, the first step in this process. We ask that the online royalties be returned to their historic arrangement and that public radio can continue to provide its vital service to music discovery."

Source: The Chicago Tribune

[CTC Command]

Excellent.

[DudeAsInCool]

ClearChannel joins NPR against rate hike fee - this is the first action by Clear Channel that I have agreed with in a long time - maybe there's hope for them with their new group of owners.

Broadcasters Challenge Streaming Rules

NEW YORK (AP) -- A wide array of broadcasters and online companies on Monday challenged a ruling from a panel of copyright judges that they say could cripple the emerging business of offering music broadcasts over the Internet.

Clear Channel Communications Inc., National Public Radio, and groups representing both large and small companies providing music broadcasts online were among those asking the Copyright Royalty Board to reconsider key parts of its March 2 ruling.

That ruling, the challenging parties say, would greatly increase the amount of royalties that online music broadcasters would have to pay to record labels and performers as well as put unreasonable demands on them to track how many songs were listened to by exactly how many individuals online.

Read More at Yahoo

[DudeAsInCool]

NPR Requests A Hearing With The CRB

National Public Radio (NPR) is leading the fight back against the Copyright Royalty Board's (CRB) recent decision to raise royalty rates for Internet radio stations. The organization filed a motion for rehearing with the CRB in response to its March 2 decision, calling into question many of the decision's technical details which NPR and others argue will severely harm Internet radio.

[method77]

excellent indeed