Net Radio Priced out of the Airwaves?

News Posted 25/04/07
Author: Matt Kemp
Source: BBC


save net radio

A recent ruling by the Copyright Royalty Board has dramatically increased the fees internet radio companies must pay to play the music you enjoy and threatens the future of internet radio.

The new fees, which will apply until 2010, will charge a flat fee per-song, per-user in addition to a $500 fee for every channel owned by a station. Fees will increase every year until 2010. Radio stations with multiple channels, such as NPR, would be charged thousands of dollars, which they claim will cripple them. Previously, stations paid an annual fee plus 12% of their profits. The fees will start on 15 May 2007 and will be collected retrospectively for 2006. Webcasters will be allowed to calculate retrospective payments by averaging listening hours.

If these royalties continue to proceed and increase internet radio will surely die.

Read more @ The BBC

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