Save Net Radio Coalition, Help Save Internet Radio!

...you're frellin' well kidding me. That HAS to be illegal.

So if I record a song then it can't be played on Internet Radio without the RIAA getting a piece? Ok. who has access to a squadron of B-17s? Let's Haggis bomb the RIAA. And then we'll follow up with rougher tactics if they persist. They don't DESERVE to make money from anything I do.

Then there's no such thing as an independent artist. Just an unsigned one.

The latest news from the Save Net Radio Coalition:

"In a twist that greatly improves the likelihood that Congress could pass legislation in time to save Internet radio from collapsing under the burden of impossibly-high royalty rates, the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB), in publishing its determination in the Federal Register yesterday, added one word to their decision that moves the due date for payments under the new rates from May 15th to July 15th."

A high percentage of congresspeople will be co-sponsoring this bill and this additional time will allow for the bill to make its way through congress, the senate and ultimately on the presidents desk!

More good news: "After months if not years of silence, the lobby group for terrestrial radio announced it is coming to the aid of Internet streamers"

Having the powerful NAB on the side of Internet broadcasters is major. It seems that the groundswell of support from listeners is making a difference.

Thanks to everyone on this site that pitched in calling, writing, emailing their senator or congressperson. We are no means out of the woods yet until the bill is passed, but the future is suddenly looking brighter!

::stare:: Terrestrial radio is pitching in? 'Scuse me while I look for the flying pigs outside.

Well, we've got a reprieve, anyway. Keep pluggin', guys.

MacFive, I wouldn't have known about this without your e-mail. Thank you.

It's been months since I've had time to listen to CR, but I still hold this site dear to my heart. While I realize that nothing lasts forever, to be forced out by people who care nothing for music, musicians or anything else except their bottom line (yes, I'm talking about you, RIAA) absolutely frosts my bollocks. I have a better chance of becoming our next President than I do of landing a major record label deal. Internet radio is one of the avenues by which I can have my music heard. No, it probably wouldn't be on CR, since I don't have anything Celtic in the works. But as long as there is internet radio, I at least have a shot at having my music heard, and perhaps selling a few downloads or CD's. I may not make a living at it. I may not make a nickel. But somewhere out there in cyberspace is a person who likes my music. I don't know who they are, but they are there. They don't even know they like my music yet. They don't know my name. But through IR, we can come together. They can hear me, I can touch them. Without IR, we both lose.

I plan to call a local talk show in the morning and at least try to broach this subject. If I can make a few people aware of what's happening, maybe one or two will care enough to climb on the bandwagon. If we all do this, maybe we can make enough people care to get the message across to the CRB, the RIAA and everyone else. WE'RE MAD AS HELL AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!

End of rant

Finally, a few quotes:

The revolution starts now. - Steve Earle

America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system and too soon to shoot the bastards. - Claire Wolfe

America was neither founded nor freed by the well-behaved. - Unknown

Here is an update on where we stand on the Save Net Radio Fight!

The CRB in their rulin changed the date that the new Royalty Payments are due to July 15, 2007! Effectively giving us a 60 day window to get the Internet Radio Equity Act passed!

This is great news because it shows there is alot of pressue on the CRB to not kill Internet Radio.

Last count there was something like 50 congresspeople that are co-sponsoring the bill. It is looking very good right now, but it ain't over until it is over.

Please please call your congressperson and senator to let them know that they should support the Internet Radio Equity Act.

If it passes, then Highlander Radio will be around for a very long time. Thanks!

I have emailed my congressman and Senators Durbin and Obama repeatedly on this issue.

Dang, someone want to dig up a few of my Anti-RIAA rants from about a year ago?
Anyway, for those interested, a link to a PDF version of H.R. 2060:
http://www.house.gov/inslee/docs/pdfs/inte..._april_2007.pdf

Aaediwen said:

Of course. The RIAA gets a cut of every blank music CD-R sold, too.
What's the difference between a blank data CD-R and a music CD-R? The music one costs more because the RIAA gets a cut of the money. There's no physical difference between them. Similar for blank cassette tapes.
Whether an artist is signed to the RIAA or not, they still generate the RIAA money. Ironicly, you'll be very hard-pressed to find an artist who says that the RIAA makes them money- which is the way it's supposed to work, isn't it?

Ergo, I've never bought a 'Music' CD-R. No point. Data is data. So what if that data just happens to be a linear 16 bit PCM stream at 44.1Khz?

***BREAKING NEWS***

A Senate counterpart to the Internet Radio Equality Act (H.R. 2060) has just been introduced with bipartisan sponsorship from Senators Ron Wyden (R-OR) and Sam Brownback (R-KS).

The Senate bill arrives on the heels of the House bill that has now garnered over 60 co-sponsors in the short time since it was introduced.

The fight continues and popular support for internet radio is being heard in the halls of Congress and the Senate.

So what shall the RIAA do now? They have proposed that Terrestrial Radio (AM/FM) should now start paying royalty payments to them. For 70 years AM/FM have paid royalties through ASCAP, BMI and SESAC.

If you ask me, I get the feeling that the RIAA have been over-run by a bunch of attorneys. What we need are reasonable people to come to reasonable agreements and not start new battles with AM/FM radio at this point!

It is sad that an organization made to support artists and musicians is actually doing the opposite.

SHIFT HAPPENS! The RIAA needs to embrace the change, not fight it!

dare I say a few more holes have been poked into the dam??? It's amazing to see the progress so far. Just want to thank everyone that has been writing, calling, and expecially want to thank MacFive for keeping us on top of things.

Guinness is on me boys....you just have to get to Wisconsin to claim it!

There are now 72 cosponsors to H.R. 2060. Seems to be growing everyday! Check this link and see if your representative is one of them. Mine's not, so I'm going to continue to drip! Have a great day everyone!

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d1...d110HR.lst:@@@P

Ben Chandler's on the list! YAAAY!

YES!!!! Barbara Cubin is on the list. She even took the time to email me about it.

Slainte