The Day the Web Goes Silent
 

The Day the Web Goes Silent
Jason Lee Miller | Staff Writer

Not a moment of silence, but a full day of silence is planned by
US-based webcasters, lots of them, in protest of the Copyright
Royalty Board's increase in royalty rates. Internet radio stations
argue the rate hikes are disproportionate and will shut down the
entire Web radio industry.

Next Tuesday, June 26, thousands of US webcasters will go silent,
including big names like Yahoo, Rhapsody, MTVOnline, and Pandora,
as well as more local offerings like BluegrassCountry.org/WAMU.org
and RadioMilwaukee.

Some webcasters will cut off their streams entirely while others
will play static, ocean sounds, or similar fare with periodic
public service announcements of what is happening.

"The arbitrary and drastic rate increases set by the Copyright
Royalty Board on March 2nd threaten the very livelihood of
thousands of webcasters and their millions of listeners
throughout the country," said Jake Ward, a spokesperson for the
SaveNetRadio Coalition.

"The campaign to save Internet radio - a genuine grassroots
movement comprised of hundreds of thousands of webcasters, artists
and independent labels, and Net radio listeners - has quickly
brought this issue to the national forefront and the halls of
Congress, but there is still more to be done before the
approaching deadline of July 15th.

"On Tuesday, thousands of webcasters will call on their millions
of listeners to join the fight to save Internet radio and contact
their Congressional representatives to ask for their support of the
Internet Radio Equality Act."

After July 15, the CRB plans to impose its new rates, a policy that
is retroactive, requiring Net radio providers pay the new rates for
the previous 17 months as well.

The complete list on Internet radio stations participating in the
Day of Silence are as follows:

Yahoo! WPNA (Oak Park, IL),
Live365 stations, 60's Chicks Radio/Seasons &
D Rhapsody, Celebrations Radio,
MTV Online, STAR 107.9,
AccuRadio, WRPS/WebRadioPugetSound,
KCRW (Santa Monica, CA), Puregold Rock 'N Roll,
Pandora, NeverEndingWonder Radio,
Radioio, RadioMilwaukee,
DigitallyImported, BAGeL Radio,
RadioParadise, Gotradio/100hitz,
3WK, KDUN (Reedsport, OR),
myMVY, GDRadio.net,
Wizard Radio, KQLZ (Los Angeles, CA),
Born Again Radio, KXPR/KXJZ (Sacramento, CA),
Pearadio.com, NiceNoise.Net,
Ear.fm, BlackLight Radio,
WGLI (Bablylon, NY), Pure Pop 24/7,
WMUK (Kalamazoo, MI), Smooth Jazz and More,
Head-On Radio Network, Reggae Nostalgia,
Zecom/Gemz Radio, WCH Radio/The Wave,
monkeygrip music cafe, WYGS Southern Gospel Radio
KFCF (Fresno, CA), Network,
LuckySevenRadio.com, BluegrassCountry.org/WAMU.
Blue Power/Guitar Speak,

While I don't really see a problem with them increasing rates... I DO have a problem with them making it retroactive.

"After July 15, the CRB plans to impose its new rates, a policy that
is retroactive, requiring Net radio providers pay the new rates for
the previous 17 months as well."

How the FUCK can they do that?

I thought that was pretty fucked up as well. :2 cents:

The increase makes no sense to me... They've made tons more money just from the mere existence of the internet radio stations that weren't around til somewhat recently..

Trying to make it retroactive definitely seems shady. I can't stand it when people try to change a deal they already made.

It's more bullshit..

:2 cents:

It doesn't just seem shady, it seems illegal. It'd be like your health insurance company upping the montly payment, making it retroactive, and forcing you to pay the difference for a year and a half of previous payments.

How very interesting. If I understand this problem correctly, these internet radio stations have been playing music and not paying for it. Sort of like content theft, isn't it?

reread the post

I see. They are complaining about paying a higher rate. I had heard about this but misunderstood it.

Radio on strike, a strange concept.

Retroactive is suspect.

follow the money, someone is expecting a big payday

I think adult sites should join in on the day of slicence.

Right.

You also missed the work excessive perhaps. Seeing mainstream radio doesn't have to pay royalties that would put them out of business.

:disgust