Every single day, I hear about a new ridiculous issue with one of the most loathed companies in the world, the RIAA. The new conflict to arise just happened yesterday after the Copyright Royalty Board, the group overseeing statutory licensing for US-based internet radio stations, announced the new royalty rates for streaming radio performance rights. To break the situation down simply, the RIAA is demanding an unfair amount of money from webcasters. With the new implemented prices, a station with 1,000 listeners will be paying over $150,000 a year to stream 24/7. This price will keep going up dramatically over the next couple of years (will be around $249,000 in 2009.)

The rates go based off the amount of songs played, and the number of listeners who hear each of those songs played. Again, the price range above is only if a station has around 1,000 listeners. The more listeners, the higher the rates. (If the station has 2,000 listeners the rates will be doubled,etc.) The RIAA, is out of control, and needs to be stopped. Please, take the time to write to your representative to try to get this issue resolved. In my opinion it is absurd to charge webcasters money to play songs in the first place–they are exposing the artists and increasing CD sales. It is silly to believe that if a listener likes an artist, they are not going to go out to get their album, because they’ll be too busy listening to the radio. The RIAA is a manipulative company, that would benefit so much more, if they stopped being so stubborn and worked with the consumer. Fortunately for the consumers, the RIAA will bring it’s own downfall, once their greed has gone too far. It already has gone to far, but soon, someone with enough power will fight the RIAA for their injustices, and dishonoring the great gift of music.

For more information, please visit
www.save-internet-radio.com