filed under Daily Dose
SaveNetRadio
10:54AM ON
05/15/2008
BY
Dave Segal
I know precious little about internet radio, or why they want us to lobby Whitehouse and not Reed. But a trusted source has asked that we pass this along, which is a response to the recent increase in royalty fees to be paid by net radio operators.
Hi, it’s Tim from Pandora,
I’m writing today to urgently ask for your help. Our future and that of all webcasters is being threatened by the actions of the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America). In an effort to cripple Internet radio they have defied Congressional direction to negotiate reasonable performance fees and are trying to shut us down.
In spite of overwhelming opposition, including from thousands of musicians, they have blatantly pursued a strategy of undermining the process, making outrageous demands, and trying to run out the clock, hoping we will just quietly fade away. There is only one way to stop this violation of the public trust, and that is by mobilizing the collective will of our listening audience.
I am writing to you because your Senator is on the crucially important Senate Judiciary committee. It would be tremendously helpful if you would take just a minute to call your Senator:
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse: (202) 224-2921
** When you call, please tell them your home town, and ask them to support the Brownback Internet Radio Equality amendment that will be considered in the Judiciary Committee this Thursday.
This amendment sets webcasting royalties at the same level as those paid by satellite radio, which would compensate musicians fairly and allow web radio to survive. For more info on the bill, please visit: www.savenetradio.org
I hope you’ll take just a few minutes to call. It’s easy to do and it will truly, truly make a difference. As a young industry, we do not have the lobbying power of the RIAA. You, our listeners, are by far our biggest and most influential allies.
Thank you very much for your support,
tim_signature.jpg
-Tim Westergren
(Pandora founder)
May 15th, 2008 at 12:13PM
Jim Rizzo Says:
While it will be prudent to reach out to both Reed and Whitehouse, and even your Rep in the House, Whitehouse is on the Judiciary committee, which is where this bill is starting.
The RIAA wants as much money as they can and are going after ‘Net Radio now because it’s an easy target and the fees they’re suggesting will likely be too much for many of these independent hosts. The Internet is where independent radio has moved because of the cost involved. The RIAA saw that and is now going after them. There are very few decent radio stations still in existence because the RIAA has their grip on all the big media companies that control most radio stations.
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