Copyright Royalty Board Rejects NPR Appeal Over Internet Radio Hikes

[DudeAsInCool]

NPR's and other webcasters' efforts to roll back the crippling royalty rate hike for Internet radio stations have been gutted. A panel of judges at the Copyright Royalty Board denied their appeal, holding up "the original CRB decision in every respect," though a slight reprieve was granted in allowing stations to pay royalties based on "average listening hours" rather than per play through 2008.

Apparently, arguing that the new fees will drive many stations out of business is tired old drivel according to the panel, who said that "most of the parties' arguments in support of a rehearing or reconsideration merely restate arguments that were made or evidence that was presented during the proceeding." No, there's no "manifest injustice" there.

The ruling takes effect May 15, so listen hard to your favorite Internet radio stations, since you may not be able to listen long.

Source: Engadget

Pathetic. The board ought to retire and go work for the dying industry they are trying to prop up. We should just support indie artists and screw the mainstream.

[CTC Command]

Already there, Dude.

[KiwiCoromandel]

oh dear...bye bye shoutcast...

[method77]

all the stations I listen too are outside of the states although I think that a solution will be found

[DudeAsInCool]

KCRW explores the problem in this radio show

[DudeAsInCool]

From Salon.com:

"Pandora is a great service, but they're at the mercy of some spectacularly nasty, greedy and clueless people in the music industry and government. I wouldn't want to be in their shoes," Buckman said. "With new restrictions, subject to the whims of the major labels or the government officials, an entrepreneur's needs don't factor highly in these decisions. Guess who has the most lobbyists? The major labels, not Pandora."

Source

[DudeAsInCool]

Time is a wasting - if you care about internet radio, please call your congressman. Here's how: Call Here

[DudeAsInCool]

Congress may loosen noose on internet radio

Bill seeks to reverse Copyright Royalty Board decision

A bill introduced in Congress today could nullify the new rates set by the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) which advocates say would put webcasters out of business.

Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Rep. Don Manzullo (R-IL) have headed the "Internet Radio Equality Act," which aims to stop the controversial March 2 decision which puts royalty of a .08 cent per song per listener, retroactively from 2006 to 2010 on internet radio.

Read More at the UK Register

[CTC Command]

Time is a wasting - if you care about internet radio, please call your congressman. Here's how: Call Here

I'm afraid that link is no more, Dude--here's another website that will give you their DC phone #'s, web/fax, and if you click on the individual congress member's name it gives you their state office phone fax/web and a breakdown of the committees and subcommittees they are serving on.