Help Save Independent Internet Radio

Please read and sign up for in formation to support American independent internet radio.  We are once again facing extinction unless we can get an extension of the Small Webcasters Agreement, which allows stations under a certain size (listener-wise) to pay a percentage of revenue to SoumdExchange instead of the crippling statutory rate recently determined by the Copyright Royalty Board.

Here is the site where you can sign up:

The expiration of the Webcaster Settlement Act has left many small webcasters facing a steep increase in royalty rates and unsure of their future survival. 

We support fair and transparent payment to artists and rightsholders when their work is used. We also recognize that small broadcasters are vitally important to musical culture, whether it’s small community FM stations or online webcasters who program niche music and artists you might not hear elsewhere. Commercial FM radio is increasingly focused on narrow repetitive playlists due to consolidation in station ownership. By contrast, webcasting reflects far greater diversity—from cutting edge releases by contemporary artists to America’s rich and varied musical traditions. And unlike commercial FM, internet radio pays musicians and labels. 

We believe artists and small webcasters are on the same team. Let’s keep it that way!
We’re optimistic that a solution can be found to allow many small commercial webcasters to continue to operate, and ensure that great music continues to get played and artists continue to get paid—directly, transparently and fairly.

Also, if you have thoughts, from a word to a couple of paragraphs, about what internet radio means to you, in particular with regard to discovering new music, please share those in the comments.  It will be helpful if we can present your feelings with SoundExchange and the CRB.

Thanks.

http://www.radiodiversity.org