Internet Radio Fights to Remain on the Air

As a 'Leading Edge Talk' station - Lisa.fm doesn't play music - but, we are supporting our colleagues who play music on their Internet radio stations.

Many webcasters will be heading to Capitol Hill this week (April 30-May 1) to urge their lawmakers to support HR 2060, The Internet Radio Equality Act. If passed into law this would overturn a recent ruling by the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB), which imposes a staggering increase in the royalty fees Internet broadcasters must pay in order to play copyrighted music.

These new fees being imposed by the CRB are 300-1,200 percent higher than the current royalty rates, and are are far greater than what AM/FM broadcasters are paying. Internet radio stations are now being asked to pay fees for each song listened to by each listener. This will result in payments far in excess of their minimal revenues. Even worse, stations are being asked to pay a $500 per-channel-fee, and the increased fees would be owed retroactively - going back 14 months!

Many Internet radio stations are barely making money (if any) as it is - often, these webcasters are in business because they are passionate about the music they play. This decision by the CRB must be overturned, if Internet radio is going to continue to be able to grow into a viable business. Internet broadcasters are only asking to pay royalty rates similar to what satellite & cable radio stations pay, or a percentage of their revenues.

There is a lot of music being played on the Internet. Live365, "the world's largest Internet radio network," streamed more than 25 million hours of music last month alone, by over 100,000 musical acts - many of these artists rely on Internet radio to play their music. Live365 and other webcasters have formed the SaveNetRadio coalition. They are asking you to call your congressman/woman to urge them to co-sponsor HR 2060, the Internet Radio Equality Act. Click here to get in touch with your Congressperson.

The steps taken between today and May 15th will determine whether or not music will continue to be playe on the Internet. You can make a difference!