Yay! More support for our cause! - Freeze-Frame Radio

Lady Strange · 80's Rock Chick

Yay! More support for our cause!

MzHartz · Permanent Vacation

Neil Gaiman also posted it to his blog last week.

Lady Strange · 80's Rock Chick

More publicity! From melodicrock.com:

SAVE INTERNET RADIO:
A little update on the futire of Internet Radio, from one of the biggest players in the game - Live365.com:
"Recently, the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) made an initial ruling of alarmingly high new royalty rates for Internet radio for the 2006-2010 period. The ruling increased sound recording royalties by 140% over the next 4 years and included a $500 minimum fee per station per year. The CRB is now rehearing our arguments against these unrealistic fees, but we must keep the pressure on.
With around 10,000 stations the previously released rates would mean an additional $5 million per year owed by Live365 and our broadcasters. Should this decision stand, most small webcasters on Live365 would be driven out of business and listeners would lose diversity in radio programming and choice in radio content.
We've created a special broadcaster webpage that has tools and information to help. This new page includes congressional addresses and contact information, sample letters, a broadcaster story submission form, details on changes we will be making to the Live365 services, and more.
Please check it out at www.live365.com/broadcasterchoice.
Though the CRB is rehearing our arguments, you still must make your voice heard by the lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Call, write, e-mail, and/or visit your Representatives and Senators today!
We will continue to fight for a realistic ruling and will work with our broadcasters, audiences, partners, and DiMA to appeal with the DC Court of Appeals if our motions are not granted.
You, Live365 Broadcasters, are our voice. Our voice must resonate to be heard and to save Internet radio. We've weathered this storm before and will do so again!"

Lady Strange · 80's Rock Chick

More good spreading of the word. I think the more the artists are aware, the better off we are, too. They will want to push to keep Internet radio alive as well. Especially the lesser-known & indie bands. Although KK Downing certainly doesn't fit into either of those categories, it is good to see Classic Metal helping to spread the word directly to the artists:

JUDAS PRIEST Guitarist Guitarist Addresses RIAA And Internet Royalties Increase -
Mar. 25, 2007

"The Classic Metal Show" recently interviewed legendary JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing about a number of topics, one which was the proposed raise of royalty rates by the RIAA that would, in essence, put Internet radio out of business. Downing stated that he found the proposed royalty rates to be "just ridiculous," and admitted that he's never received a check from the RIAA for royalties allegedly collected in his name by the organization. An excerpt from the conversation follows:

The Classic Metal Show: There's kind of a battle raging here in the United States about Internet radio. I wanted to get your take on that. With the advent of the Internet and the popularity of Internet radio, do you think that it has helped or hurt JUDAS PRIEST in getting promotion and awareness out there?

K.K. Downing: Well, as far as I'm concerned, any radio is great radio. If it hadn't been for radio, JUDAS PRIEST certainly wouldn't be where we are today, and that is a fact.

The Classic Metal Show: Currently here in the U.S., there's a controversy raging about the royalty fees that Internet radio may be required to pay. The RIAA…are you familiar with the RIAA at all?

K.K. Downing: No, not really.

The Classic Metal Show: The Record Industry Association of America. They're going after Internet radio stations to pay a very high royalty rate in order to broadcast copyrighted music. Basically, just to give you the gist of it, in a year's time at the royalty rate they are asking, an Internet radio station that, say, serves 1,000 listeners 365 days a year, the royalty rate that they would have to pay in order to stay in business would equate to about $200,000 a year.

K.K. Downing: Well, that's just ridiculous. That just doesn't stack up, as you say. That just doesn't equate. What's the equation? Who put that together? That's obviously silly.

The Classic Metal Show: Have you ever received a check from the RIAA, who's supposed out there representing you and JUDAS PRIEST?

K.K. Downing: No!

The Classic Metal Show: I didn't think so.

K.K. Downing: At least not to my knowledge. I've never heard of it.

The Classic Metal Show: Well, that's what I wanted to know, because guys like "The Classic Metal Show" will be put out of business if that goes into effect.

K.K. Downing: Well, that's obviously the last thing that we want, and if there's anything we can do to help, let us know.

To hear Downing talking about Internet radio with "The Classic Metal Show", go to this location.

"The Classic Metal Show" airs Saturday nights between 9:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. via www.theclassicmetalshow.com.