I’m a big fan of Internet radio. On stations Last.fm and Pandora I’m able to customize my programming to my preferences. On Pandora, I simply plug in the name of an artist and it will play that performer, plus similar music. For example if I put in Pearl Jam, music by Bush, Radiohead and The Stills is also played. This has allowed me to discover artists I wouldn’t have heard on regular radio. In addition, I like a lot of bands that aren’t played on the Top 40 stations that seem to have taken over regular radio’s airwaves.
This is a great form of publicity for emerging artists. Through this technology they have the opportunity to reach 70 million monthly listeners. Unfortunately, music will die for Internet radio on July 15, 2007. On this date, the Copyright Royalty Board’s (CRB) new rates will become effective. The new rates will raise copyright royalties by an estimated 300 to 1,200 percent. This decision will affect small and large stations, ultimately putting them out of business. The music will end for listeners, and small independent artists and record labels will lose a significant outlet for introducing the public to their work.
Thankfully, a coalition of webcasters, recording artists and listeners has been created to lobby Congress to reverse the decision by the CRB. Earlier this month, Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sam Brownbeck (R-KA) introduced The Internet Radio Equality Act of 2007. If the bill is passed the music of Internet radio will live to entertain us another day. Help save this unique medium for artists and music lovers by calling your members of Congress to ask them to co-sponsor the bill. Visit SaveNetRadio for more information.
