Action Alert!
The future of Internet radio is in immediate danger!
Royalty rates for webcasters have been drastically increased [disproportionately – the increase is much higher for Internet broadcasters than for Satellite or regular radio] by a recent ruling and are due to go into effect on July 15 (retroactive to Jan 1, 2006!). If the increased rates remain unchanged, the majority of webcasters will go bankrupt and silent on this date. Internet radio needs your help!
The Internet Radio Equality Act has recently been introduced in both the House and Senate to save the Internet radio industry. Please call your senators and your representative to ask them to co-sponsor the Internet Radio Equality Act.
What do these new regulations mean? They mean Internet broadcasters like Pandora will pay a lot more per song than radio stations or satellite broadcasters. This effectively destroys the small independent broadcasters that use the Web and gives unfair economic advantage to the mega media corporations that own most radio and satellite stations. This is anti-democracy, anti-free speech and decidedly Bush Republican.
Please click here to find the contact information of your senators and representative. Stand up for Internet radio.