Help Save Internet Radio

On March 2, 2007 the United States Copyright Royalty Board (or CRB) announced it’s plan to enforce new royalty rates for internet radio broadcasters. Essentially, the broadcaster must pay these new rates to the owners of production copyrights to license the music they play for the years 2006 to 2010. The owners of these production copyrights are in the vast majority of cases the record labels themselves. Most successful internet radio broadcasters can build loyal audiences that usually cover the royalty costs of the music they play. However, the new rates are so high that they have the potential and most likely will destroy the internet radio industry.

Internet radio is enjoyed by countless Americans every day. It also provides exclusive promotional opportunities to independent labels and artists that may not be available to them with terrestrial or satellite radio. In just the last year internet radio listening has jumped exponentially to tens of millions of listeners every month. Internet radio has become very popular and it offers a huge benefit to thousands of artists who are now able to find new fans every day.

We have to take action to stop this new ruling from jepordizing the future of internet radio that so many people including myself enjoy and depend on every day. The SaveNetRadio Coalition has been formed to represent all of the broadcasters, all of the internet radio listeners, and all of the artists who enjoy the benefits of this medium.

You can help fight for the preservation of internet radio by contacting your local representatives so they will co-sponsor the internet radio equality act. More information can be found on the SaveNetRadio website.