SAVE BEETHOVEN RADIO!!!

[Catmando]

And before Bach's Lunch we'd hear O Canada?

No! Only by request.

[Serenity]

And before Bach's Lunch we'd hear O Canada?

No! Only by request.

Are you saying the Star Spangled Banner is requested every day? If they move the servers to Canada, "Oh Canada" would replace the Star Spangled Banner.

P.S. Thanks for the post Nicole. Is there a site where we can follow the latest news/proceedings/voting on the royalty rates?

[Nicole Marie]

http://www.kurthanson.com/

This is a great website to stay up to speed. Kurt published articles about once a week and many of the industry execs are quoted in his articles.

Here is another site that started too:

http://www.savethestreams.org

[Shapley]

I received a reply from one of my Senators, Barack Obama, pursuant to my letter on this subject. Attached is a copy of the text:

Dear Shapley:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the Copyright Royalty Board’s rate increase decision and its effect on small webcasters. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this issue.

The royalty rate for webcasters has proven to be a controversial subject, with small webcasters hoping to become viable, competitive alternatives to large commercial radio stations. As you point out, many of these small webcasters offer a variety of music unavailable to a wide audience through other sources.

Regulations set by the enactment of the Small Webcasters Settlement Act of 2002, which favored small webcasters, recently expired and the regulations had to be revisited. As you know, in March, 2007, the Copyright Royalty Board issued its decision, which establishes new rates for commercial and noncommercial webcasters. The Board considered the comments of small commercial webcasters, who sought continuation of a fee based solely according to revenue. Ultimately, the Board rejected this benefit for small webcasters, opting instead for a flat-rate fee and a per song per listener basis. When making this decision, the Board cited the difficulty of distinguishing small and large commercial webcasters, as well as their own lack of statutory authority to carve out royalty rate niches for the emergent business models promoted by small commercial webcasters.

The Board’s decision can be revised through legislative action, and it is likely that the Senate will examine this issue. I will certainly keep your thoughts in mind when it does.

Again, thank you for raising this issue with me. Please stay in touch.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama
United States Senator

[trombonepirate]

I'm a bit of a late comer to this and maybe I'm just an idiot but I couldn't find the petition anywhere. I've got an army of irate college students ready to sign but none of us know where the petition is.
TBP

[Shapley]

This link should take you straight to the petition site Nicole linked to above.

[barfle]

I also received a response from Tom Davis.

Dear James:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the decision by the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) regarding internet radio royalty fees. I appreciate hearing from you on this issue.

As you may know, the CRB is an oversight body within the Library of Congress charged by the Congress to settle royalty disputes in the music business. On March 5, 2007, the CRB issued a revised fee structure that would raise royalty payments for internet radio stations. Since the CRB first ruled on this issue in 2002, rates for a copyrighted performance were set at 0.07 cents per use or a total flat fee of $500 a month. Under the revised pricing structure, however, rates will soon rise to 0.08 cents per performance and be phased up to 0.19 cents per performance by 2010. As internet radio has blossomed in the past few years, listenership and thus the licensed rights being used have increased. CRB therefore felt it appropriate that the internet radio industry pay a larger and direct percentage in proportion to this increased usage.

I am concerned about the potentially devastating effect these fee hikes could pose to this fledgling industry. Internet radio offers vast choices and options to consumers in Northern Virginia and around the world. On the other hand, this industry is growing by leaps and bounds and it is their duty to provide just payment to those artists that appear on their channels.

I am hopeful that as the appeals process continues a fair and reasonable amount of compensation can be agreed upon by all parties involved. My constituents benefit greatly from this unique service, and it would be a shame to burden this new and exciting industry before it has the chance to make its mark. Please be assured that I will continue to monitor this situation as it unfolds.

Again, thank you again for contacting me. Please continue to keep me informed of issues of importance to you.


Sincerely,

Tom Davis
Member of Congress

[Shapley]

This link was posted in another forum.

Looks our best hope rests with Congressional action. (I never thought I'd be the one to say that. I generally prefer Congressional inaction as being our best hope.

[Catmando]

Anything new developments since last week?

[navneeth]

Good news for internet radio?
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/27 ... ntroduced/

[Shapley]

Time for another letter to my congressman urging his support.

[navneeth]

Internet radio gets two more months.

[DavidS]

Internet radio gets two more months.

Nav, would you know of any way we non-US residents might influence things and attempt to stop this terrible blow, apart from keeping our fingers crossed?

[navneeth]

I'm afraid I don't know of a way for non-US residents to influece US congressmen on this issue, not yet at least. Being non-tax payers, do you think they would consider our requests seriously?

[jamiebk]

I'm afraid I don't know of a way for non-US residents to influece US congressmen on this issue, not yet at least. Being non-tax payers, do you think they would consider our requests seriously?

You could just do what everybody else does....just pay them off with bribes

[navneeth]

You could just do what everybody else does....just pay them off with bribes

I guess the radio stations would rather pay the royalties than doing that.

[Shapley]

My Congressman Responds:

Dear Shapley:

I wanted to drop you a note to let you know I received your
message regarding H.R. 2060, the Internet Radio Equity Act.

I appreciate you contacting my office regarding this issue and
thank you for sharing your concerns with me. As you may know,
the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) was created by Congress to
settle royalty disputes in the music business and has issued a new,
higher fee structure for Web music broadcasts. I want you to know
I have concerns with the impact of this high rate on many of our
smaller stations.

H.R. 2060 would nullify the CRB decision to increase rates. This
legislation has been referred to the House Judiciary and Energy
and Commerce Committees. Be assured I will continue to monitor
this issue closely with your views in mind.

If I can be of further assistance in the future, please do not hesitate
to contact me.

Sincerely,

Jerry F. Costello
Member of Congress

[navneeth]

Now it's the turn of the old, normal radio

[jamiebk]

I received this from my Congresswoman in response to my letter (It's a start)
##################
Dear Mr. Black:

Thank you for contacting me with your concerns about the Copyright
Royalty Board's (CRB) decision to raise royalty rates for Internet radio
stations. I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts with me
on this important matter.

Like you, I believe Internet radio listeners should have diverse range of
options available to them. Local and independent Internet radio stations,
or webcasters, provide valuable information to their listeners, and it's
important that we promote this diversity, not stifle it. As you may know,
the CRB announced on March 2, 2007, its decision to increase royalty
payments of Internet radio stations to musicians and record companies.
Prior to this ruling, small public and private Internet radio stations paid a
flat fee based a percentage of their total revenue from royalties.
However, the CRB's new ruling will require all Internet radio stations to
pay royalties based on a per-song, per-listener basis, which will
potentially put many webcasters out of business. Additionally, these
royalty payments will be retroactive to 2006, putting an even greater
strain on these smaller stations. That's why I'm a cosponsor of H.R.
2060, the Internet Radio Equality Act, which would invalidate the CRB's
March 2 decision and would establish a more equitable royalty payment
system for internet radio based on the standards applied to satellite radio
stations. This bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy
and Commerce. Please know that I will continue to monitor this
situation and will keep your thoughts in mind as I work in Congress to
fight measures that limit consumers' choices.

Again, it's good to hear from you. The people of Marin and Sonoma
counties are the most important voices I listen to as I serve in Congress.

Sincerely,

Lynn Woolsey
Member of Congress

[Nicole Marie]

You could just do what everybody else does....just pay them off with bribes

I guess the radio stations would rather pay the royalties than doing that.

Yeah, that's payola and jail time! But the other option is I'm without a job! Lesser of two evils...