Will Internet Radio die on July 15th?

Paul Michael — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 16:34:45 +0000

If you love the freedom and variety of Internet Radio, today is not going to be a good day for you. Today is Internet Radio Day Of Silence. Webcasters everywhere have gone silent, not as a way to annoy loyal listeners, but as a way to encourage us all to act on a bill that could silence web radio forever.

July 15th is a day looming on the horizon for Internet Radio. Royalty rates will increase three-fold that day due to the single-minded lobbying of the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America). What's more, the fees are retroactive to January 1st, and such fees will cripple many online stations. My favorite, Pandora, posted a letter about this whole incident here , and thus my Macintosh is sadly silent today.

Web radio is a wonderful musical resource. With so many genres to choose from, it gives consumers variety and freedom. It's also great for up-and-coming bands, who often can't break through the red tape of traditional commercial radio stations. I, for one, would sorely miss Internet Radio if it were to wither and die. And without your help, it may just do that.

What can you do?

First, visit savenetradio.org and read all about the campaign. Once your blood is good and boiling, find the names and numbers of your local Senators and Representatives and tell them to become co-sponsors of the Internet Radio Equality Act.

As I often say, power to the people. Let's get Internet Radio a fair deal folks, and tell as many people as you can about this. I certainly don't want to be writing its obituary in a month's time. Thanks.

Powerful NEW photo by Wiseacre . Thank you (I changed the old photo due to a few lovely comments. I do hope you got the point of the article and did your piece to help though).

Written by Paul Michael and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.