Streaming websites pleading for help on new royalty fees
As expected, the new, ridiculous Copyright Royalty Board copyright licensing fees for streaming radio stations has alarmed internet broadcasters. Here's a few that have so far crunched the numbers and realized their businesses are in immediate jeopardy:
KCRW-FM Los Angeles (KCRW.com):
New and Higher Royalty Rates for Music May Shut Many Internet Radio Stations Down
KCRW will now pay a performance royalty for every person listening to every song we play online. That's true whether you support the station or not.
Sustain KCRW's unique streams. Help us showcase new artists and original vision. Join us and become a subscriber now.
Thank you,
Ruth Seymour
KCRW General Manager
KCRW's Music streams are an experiment in the next generation of internet radio, from Los Angeles-based 89.9 KCRW.
KCRW puts the best of underground flavors, independent records and progressive major releases within reach 24/7. Our music streams boast the same variety of cutting edge music that defines 89.9 KCRW's eclectic identity, featuring electronica to progressive pop, Latin alternative to modern soul, hip-hop, trip-hop, world music and more.
Los Angeles-based 89.9 KCRW is an internationally renowned source for breaking music, free-form radio and DJs who are counted among the industry's trendsetters and tastemakers. With a spirit of discovery and a keen eye on the future of media technology, we launched our music only channel in March 2006. KCRW's Music channel is also available through iTunes and on Radio@AOL
SomaFM.com:
SomaFM News
The Copyright Royalty Board has announced new copyright licensing fees for internet radio stations. The new fees are a staggering increase over our previous annual royalty rate of about $22,000 to over 600,000 for 2006. And the fees are even higher in 2007, based on our current listenership, they'll be over 1 million dollars for 2007! (Which is 3-4 times what we hope to raise in 2007). If you think this is unfair to internet radio, and you are an American citizen, you can send a letter to your congressman showing your support for internet radio. We already have the attention of Congress, so now you have to let them know you support internet radio and that royalty rates shouldn't be structured in a way that will put small webcasters our of business.
We need to raise at least 15,000 each month to meet our current minimum operating budget. (The new royalty rates will substantially increase our costs!) With your 50 support, you'll get a SomaFM Tshirt, or at the 35 support level get our Indie Pop Rocks! compilation CD. Or get both for 75! And if that's more than you can budget right now, your support of any amount helps us!
3wk.com:
NEW COPYRIGHT RATES ISSUED
As Yogi Bera said, "It's deja vu, all over again." 5 years ago 3WK, independent webcasters, and 100,000+ listeners lobbied Congress successfully to get a law passed that lowered the proposed sound performance copyright fees enough to allow small webcasters to stay in business. Well, we're right back where we started. Late last week a Copyright Royalty Board issued the copyright fees for the next 5 years. In the first year alone, the fee is FIVE TIMES what we're currently paying. And by the fifth year, the fee jumps to TWELVE TIMES today's rate. Obviously, this is not something that small webcasters can afford, nor is it fair, especially since terrestrial radio pays nothing to play music.
We need your help. We need you to call, email, or write your Congressional representatives and tell then to save internet radio. Visit our Save Our Streams page (SOS) to find out how you can help - and do it fast and furiously because the new copyright fees are retroactive and we need these copyright rates lowered NOW!
Kurt Hanson's Accuradio.com:
Internet radio is in danger of becoming EXTINCT!
The U.S. Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) has just issued a decision on the royalty rates that webcasters have to pay to record labels for the period 2006-2010.
The rates are so high that they exceed 100% of most webcasters' total revenues! If the CRB's decision stands, the retroactive portion for 2006 alone will bankrupt virtually all independent webcasters, including AccuRadio.
Furthermore, the CRB's schedule of huge annual increases in the rate will probably drive most other Internet radio stations off the air as well.
AccuRadio needs your help!
Here's how you can help: You can sign an online petition HERE, and/or you can use THIS LINK to call, write, or e-mail (that's in descending order of effectiveness) your representatives in the U.S. Congress.
Along with all other independent webcasters, AccuRadio may only be a few weeks away from being driven out of business. Please help if you can!
