As I posted the other day, the Copyright Royalties Board stuck a knife in small, microcaster radio stations by removing the special royalty rates granted to non-commercial webcasters. In the last two weeks, thousands of radio stations have gone silent. One of the largest providers for stations like mine, Live365, was forced to shut down as a result of this decision. But it doesn't have to be this way.Please help internet radio by signing some petitions and visiting Save Internet Radio.net.
This petition, in particular, is important: SaveNet Radio Petition
Here's the thing: FM and AM radio stations are exempt from paying most of the royalties that internet broadcasters must pay. Spotify and Pandora have to pay the higher rate, but they can absorb the cost due to their huge operations and the millions they make in advertising. Frankly, they like the fact that small broadcasters who were once rivals and competitors are now shutting down their streams. It is a win for them, in the end.
It is not that I am opposed to paying royalties. I am not. Artists should be compensated. But there should be a sliding scale in regard to the size of an operation and the amount of listeners, don't you think?
Right now, Vinyl Voyage is still on the air. We are moving everything over to Radionomy. That means that we will now have to broadcast commercials. But, we will do what we have to do until things change.
So, take a moment and sign that petition. Let others know of what is happening.
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