Sockmonkey's Journal

Main · Photos · Video · Journal · Links · Profile · friends · Comments · Search

July 7, 2007

IF YOU LOVE FREEDOM AND/OR MUSIC...

Friends and family and funksoulbrothers,

So there's only about a week left until legislation takes effect that will raise royalty rates for all internet-based radio stations. They are getting charged the same amount as commercial radio stations which will increase the royalty fees they pay by as much as 1200%. This ruling will result in many webcasters owing music royalty fees that are more than their yearly budget! Because of this, many popular internet radio services will shut down.

This is really a big deal for upcoming bands/labels/production teams, non-corporate radio stations, and listener supported channels that cannot afford the commercial radio station royalty fees even though they are non-commercial stations. Not only are many stations going to be forced to be shut down due to financial inabilities, the most popular web stations may have to limit their amount of listeners as well. This increase in rates isn't going to be giving major label, millionaire artists and musicians a lot more money; just the labels, corporations, and tax collecting services, so the only ones really hurting are gigantic companies who already dominate the commercial radio airwaves by dictating what is played and, therefore, what we may all have to end up listening to if we don't do something to stop it.

http://www.savenetradio.org/

Thanks for listening, homeslices. Please, SUPPORT INDEPENDENT MUSIC and sign this!