Recently, the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) issued the significantly higher new royalty rates for Internet radio for the 2006-2010 period. The ruling ignored webcasting community proposals and set out the SoundExchange proposed "per performance" rates (below) and a $500 minimum fee per channel per year. With around 10,000 stations playing over 250,000 artists each month, that would mean an additional $5 million per year for Live365.

Although there is no clear definition of what a "channel" is, the $500 minimum fee per channel threatens Live365’s ability to help make the small webcasters’ voice heard on the Internet, by effectively forcing Live365 to raise the minimum broadcasting fees to a level that would cause most small webcasters to discontinue their service thus silencing their stations. The CRB’s determination imperils small and large webcasters alike and threatens listening experiences of millions of Internet radio listeners.

New per performance royalty rates established by the CRB

What We Are Doing

• We are in the process of filing a petition for rehearing of the new rates to the CRB.
• We will also join our fellow Digital Media Association (DiMA) members and the Internet radio industry at large to combat this unfair ruling made by the CRB.
• We are starting a campaign to raise awareness on Capital Hill of the grave threat that the new CRB rates have posed to the Internet radio industry.

What You Can Do

Broadcasters: please visit the Broadcaster Choice page for more station-specific info

Please join us in our petition for overturning the CRB determination and in our fight to save Internet radio. Bookmark this page for more on how you can participate in our campaign early next week.

Meanwhile, make your voice heard by the lawmakers on Capitol Hill! Call, write, e-mail, and/or visit your Representatives and Senators today and request that:

1. Congress void the retroactive $500 per channel minimum that threatens to drive Live365’s small webcasters out of business.
2. Congress reinstate the Small Webcaster Settlement Act. The CRB declared that the 2002 SWSA would not be extended despite the Small Webcaster contracts SoundExchange offered on its website and signed with Small Webcasters for 2006 and 2007.
3. Stop the retroactive, ex post facto royalty payments for 2006 mandated by the CRB, until all appeals have been heard.
4. Create a level playing field by bringing the Internet radio per performance rates into parity with traditional and satellite radio. Unlike internet radio, traditional radio does NOT pay royalties to record labels or artists for songs performed over the air.

Related Links

Broadcasters: please visit the Broadcaster Choice page for more station-specific info

1. Send a stamped letter, mailed by U.S. Mail or FedEx to your congressperson (find their mailing address). This type of hand-written message with your own personal story is treated with a LOT of value when received by your congressperson. Include your personal story... your name and location, the type of music you listen to, and how this new royalty will affect you. Be as specific as you possibly can.
2. Though it's not nearly as effective as a postmarked letter, you can also send an e-mail message to your Senators and Representatives. With your zipcode or address, you can use this quick, easy e-mail form to get directly to the congressperson for your location: http://www.congress.org (use the form letter found there or write your own story)
3. Full written decision of the Copyright Royalty Board:
   http://www.loc.gov/crb/proceedings/2005-1/rates-terms2005-1.pdf

   Support Your Favorite DJs

As a VIP subscriber to the Live365 service you help cover the royalty cost for the DJs you listen to, enabling them to continue broadcasting and playing your favorite tunes.

To become a VIP and contribute to your favorite broadcaster, go to their station page by clicking the station title in the player window. Then click the green "Subscribe Now" button in the upper right corner and buy VIP.

Or, if you prefer, you can support Live365 and all the stations by going directly to the VIP orderform and buying VIP.

Check back later this week for more on saving Internet radio with Live365.