A Reprieve for Internet Radio

westlake writes "In the wake of Internet Radio's Day of Silence, SoundExchange has proposed a temporary $2500 cap on advance payments 'per channel/per station.' The Digital Music Association responded immediately in its own press release that it would agree to this, but only if the term for the new arrangement were extended to 2010 — or, preferably, forever. On another front, SoundExchange seems aware in its PR that it will have to concede something more to the non-profit webcaster, if it is to avoid Congressional action."

Re:Still a chunk of change

[Anonymous Coward]

And wasn't the contention that they were demanding these fees even from stations that exclusively "broadcast" public domain or copyleft works?

Technically, they CAN'T LEGALLY go after the PD or copyleft stations. Sure, they can ASK for the fees from these broadcasters, but they cannot win them in court since Soundexchange wasn't specifically hired to protect these copyrights and they have no contract to do so. Attempting to get fees from PD/copyleft broadcasters would be like me sticking up a 7-11 store, telling the clerk "I'm here representing the IRS, hand over all your cash so I can give it to them."

Yeah, like that would hold up in court.

"it would agree to this"

[Live_in_Dayton]

Warning, I got a really disgusting NSFW picture when I clicked on the phrase "it would agree to this". I would advise that the link be deactivated.

NSFW GOATSE

[casings]

GOATSE ALERT!!!!!

Don't click the "it would agree to this link" it has either been hacked or the picture redirected to goatse!

Warning!!!!!!

Fight the Music police!

[johnarama]

I don't like this idea of royalties. Radio (online or off) PROMOTES music, so that listeners are able to decide what they want to BUY! Music fans have a new option for hearing and sharing music, there's encrypted file sharing apps, such as GigaTribe ( http://www.gigatribe.com/ [gigatribe.com] ), that let people share music without big brother looking over their shoulder.

Re:"non profit broadcaster?"

[wuzfuzzy]

Do you have a clue what this is all about? The main problem with these new rate is that all stations must pay for each song per channel PER LISTENER. All the stations are willing to pay a percentage of income just like SAT radio does, even though Traditional radio doesn't pay one red cent.

Re:"non profit broadcaster?"

[lessermilton]

non-profit (at least the pure term) refers to stations like your local public radio.

Radio's customers are NOT the listeners. Their customers are their advertisers. Their commodity is YOU, the loyal listener. Their product is not music, music is simply one of their expenses.

Non-profit radio stations don't really have customers. At the most you could call either the listener, or the artists the customers. Listener, most likely, as you're the one who may or may not donate to them.

Non-profit radio stations, by virtue of who and what they are, (AFAIK) are legally only allowed to play music that they have permission to play. Indie bands/copyleftists who don't mind if people share their music because they know the money comes from playing live, rather than music purchases. Just ask any big name artist where the major % comes from - records or concerts.

And if you want to own a physical copy of the CD, you can usually contact the artist directly, and 100% of the profits go to them, rather than 2-3c on the $15+.