[WXBH-Discuss] FW: Rescue Internet Radio

[Mark McKinley]

Quick action please from our friends at Free Press -
>
>Online music is in danger. A recent ruling by an obscure
>regulatory board threatens to put independent and public radio
>on the Internet out of business.
>
>The "Copyright Royalty Board" is dramatically increasing the
>royalties "webcasters" must pay every time they stream a song
>online. Public Internet radio like NPR is especially at risk.
>
>The rules could shut down nonprofit and smaller commercial
>Internet radio outlets and force larger webcasters to play the
>same cookie-cutter music as Clear Channel. So much for new
>online alternatives.
>
>Rescue Internet Radio: Sign the Petition:
>http://action.freepress.net/campaign/internetradio/i78w8gnz0tjm5m7?
>
>This is not just another petition. The Copyright Royalty Board
>isn't used to hearing from the public, so your action can really
>make a difference. And we need to stop them before the new
>charges go into effect.
>
>Artists must be compensated for their work. But the new
>regulations don't even differentiate between public outlets,
>small upstarts, and the largest commercial companies. The
>proposed increase would silence many outlets that play
>independent artists and musical genres you can't find anymore on
>the radio dial.
>
>As soon as smaller webcasters start to attract a sizable
>audience, the royalty costs would be astronomical -- and likely
>fatal. And nonprofit stations like NPR should not be forced to
>pay so much money that they actually fear an increase in their
>listeners.
>
>Industry-wide consolidation has destroyed musical diversity and
>shut out independent and local artists on broadcast radio. We
>can't let the same thing happen on the Internet.
>
>The Copyright Royalty Board -- or if necessary, Congress --
>needs to fix the rules so that artist and musicians thrive
>alongside a new generation of Internet radio webcasters. Send
>them a message by adding your name to our petition.
>
>Tell Your Friends: 
>http://action.freepress.net/campaign/internetradio/forward/i78w8gnz0tjm5m7?
>
>Our goal is collect 50,000 signatures by Monday. Help us get
>there by telling all your friends that now is the time to take
>action.
>
>Thanks for all you do,
>
>Josh Silver
>Executive Director
>Free Press
>www.freepress.net
>
>P.S. More than 15,000 readers rely on the Media Reform Daily for
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>free.
>
>Tell Your Friends: 
>http://action.freepress.net/campaign/internetradio/forward/i78w8gnz0tjm5m7?
>
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