It’s Quiet in Internet Radioland Today

ot070626d-day_for_webcasters335x120.gifToday, many internet webcasters are observing a day of silence to alert and remind listeners of the impact that the new copyright royalties will have on the webcasting industry if the proposed royalty rates go into effect July 15th.

I listen to internet radio all day long, at work and at home, and today is a reminder to me that what I take for granted now may not be there tomorrow. Internet radio is one of the few bright spots in the music industry currently, and that webcasters serve up eclectic and interesting tunes that you would never here on celestial or satellite radio. Internet radio serves a valuable role in promoting lesser known artists. The future of the music industry lies in discovery as people search further down the long tail to find the niche they want to listen too. Internet radio helps them find that niche.

But it could all be going away. Currently, webcasters pay royalties by sharing advertising revenue with the artists and labels. The proposed changes would require them to pay royalties on a per song per listener basis. There are many listener supported webcasters who simply couldn’t afford it.

Some of my favorite stations that I won’t be listening to today are: KCRW, Pandora, & Radio Paradise. Interestingly, since Last.fm has recently been purchased by CBS, they are choosing not to observe the day of silence. I was an early adopter and loved Last.fm but this new corporate stance ends my relationship with them. Last.fm, you’re off my playlist.

Hope everyone enjoys the quiet day in internet radioland. If you don’t want this to become the permanent situation and want to do something to save internet radio, go here.

Why I Care About Internet Radio

SaveNetRadio.orgI listen to internet radio all day long at work and often in the evening at home. It is such a wonderful medium to listen to music because of the diversity of what you can find. When I moved to New Orleans from LA, my favorite radio station KCRW came with me in the form of KCRWmusic.com, which I listen to religiously.

Internet radio is under attack. As soon as July 15th, the landscape could change dramatically due to new royalty rates that are set to take effect then. These rates would effectively drive smaller broadcasters off the air. According to the New York Times:

The proposed increases could raise the cost of sound recordings for Internet stations 300 percent to 1,200 percent, and have set off a furious political struggle…..Those efforts prompted Senators Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon, and Sam Brownback, Republican of Kansas, to introduce legislation last Thursday to reverse a Copyright Royalty Board decision setting the new rates.

There is something we can do:

  • Visit SaveNetRadio.org and sign the petiton and read about the recent bill to reverse the decision.

I sure hope that thoughtful understanding of the value of diversity of music on the internet prevails over the corporate interests working to line the pockets of the record industry.

Shout outs to my personal web radio favorites: