I don’t get many readers, but I figure that if I reach even one person who does not know what is going on today then I have done my part.
Today, many (most?) Internet radio stations are planning to go silent in protest of the Copyright Royalty Boards decision to raise the royalty rates that Internet Radio stations must pay to the SoundExchange to the right to broadcast their music. The changes go into effect on July 15 unless something can be done to stop them. In some cases, the new royalties will go from 10 or 11% of a stations revenue to nearly 300%. Basically, the new rates will drive many (most?) of the radio stations out of business.
You can find out more about the CRB’s changes, and what is being done to stop the changes by visiting Save Net Radio, Pandora or RAIN ( the Radio and Internet Newsletter). Everyone should write to or call their congressmen today and ask them to support legislation that will stop the changes.
There is some good news coverage, you can read some via Daylife and Google News. Unfortunately, I don’t see this issue on the front page of the Houston Chronicle web site (but it is in the Tech section).
