Tweet
They will replace music with silence today to fight royalty rate hikes.
By Jim Puzzanghera, Times Staff Writer
June 26, 2007
WASHINGTON — Across the Internet, the music will die today.
It's a protest staged by online radio stations to preview what they say will happen when substantially higher royalty rates kick in next month, silencing for good stations that can't afford them.
Thousands of webcasters will replace their music streams today with periods of silence and occasional messages about the dispute, urging people to press Congress to reverse the royalty rate and fee increase set by a federal board. But despite growing support, Congress is unlikely to act before July 15, when the new rates take effect.
That leaves Internet radio operators hoping that a federal court will grant an emergency stay, or that negotiations with SoundExchange, the organization that collects and distributes Internet music royalties, will lead to lower rates and fees.
"It's not a moneymaking venture; it's a labor of love," said Ted Leibowitz, 39, a software engineer who runs BAGeL Radio from his San Francisco apartment.
the rest of the story is here
If you want to help save net radio, click here below.
http://www.savenetradio.org/
By Jim Puzzanghera, Times Staff Writer
June 26, 2007
WASHINGTON — Across the Internet, the music will die today.
It's a protest staged by online radio stations to preview what they say will happen when substantially higher royalty rates kick in next month, silencing for good stations that can't afford them.
Thousands of webcasters will replace their music streams today with periods of silence and occasional messages about the dispute, urging people to press Congress to reverse the royalty rate and fee increase set by a federal board. But despite growing support, Congress is unlikely to act before July 15, when the new rates take effect.
That leaves Internet radio operators hoping that a federal court will grant an emergency stay, or that negotiations with SoundExchange, the organization that collects and distributes Internet music royalties, will lead to lower rates and fees.
"It's not a moneymaking venture; it's a labor of love," said Ted Leibowitz, 39, a software engineer who runs BAGeL Radio from his San Francisco apartment.
the rest of the story is here
If you want to help save net radio, click here below.
http://www.savenetradio.org/