Even though I knew today was going to be Internet Radio Day of Silence, it was still jarring to fire up 3WK in iTunes and hear Monty Python skits instead of semi-obscure 60s and 70s rock.
So what is Internet Radio Day of Silence? I’ll let 3WK tell you.
3WK has, along with most U.S. webcasters, declared today, June 26, as a DAY OF SILENCE. This is our way of showing our listeners what Internet radio will sound like if a new sound performance copyright fee is allowed to go into effect.
New Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) sound performance copyright fees are so high it will make existence impossible for 3WK and most webcasters. This new increase will not only hurt the fledgling webcasting industry, it will also devastate independent labels and musicians who look to internet radio as a primary source of airplay and promotion of their music. If most independent webcasters disappear, this directly affects the musical choices available to you, the listener.
Among local companies, Earthlink Radio is participating. In fact, pretty much every major (in terms of audience size) webcaster and webcasting company is participating except for Last.fm. Visit this site to view a full list.
The new rates are scheduled to go into effect July 15, and are retroactive to Jan. 1, 2006. Effectively, this will put most internet radio stations out of business.
As Techcrunch notes, since large broadcasting companies are incapable of winning new listeners over with compelling content in an open market, they have resorted to lobbying for laws to push the competition out. And they’ve succeeded.
What can you do? Call and/or write to your Congressman. Be polite but make it clear you are unhappy. If you’re in Georgia (which you probably are if you’re reading this), I recommend pointing out that this is precisely the interference with the free market that many of them ran for office promising to prevent.
Here is contact information for the Georgia delegation:
Jack Kingston, 1st District
Phone: 202-225-5831
Fax: 202-226-2269
Email:jack.kingston AT mail.house.gov
Sanford D. Bishop Jr., 2nd District
Phone: 202-225-3631
Fax: 202-225-2203
Web Email
Lynn A. Westmoreland, 3rd District
Phone: 202-225-5901
Fax: 202-225-2515
Web Email
Henry C. “Hank” Jr. Johnson, 4th District
Phone: (202) 225-1605
Fax: (202) 226-0691
Web Email
John Lewis, 5th District
Phone: 202-225-3801
Fax: 202-225-0351
Web Email
Tom Price, 6th District
Phone: 202-225-4501
Web Email
John Linder, 7th District
Phone: 202-225-4272
Fax: 202-225-4696
Web Email
Jim Marshall, 8th District
Phone: 202-225-6531
Fax: 202-225-3013
Web Email
Nathan Deal, 9th District
Phone: 202-225-5211
Fax: 202-225-8272
Web Email
(10th District is vacant)
Phil Gingrey, 11th District
Phone: 202-225-2931
Fax: 202-225-2944
Web Email
John Barrow, 12th District
Phone: 202-225-2823
Fax: 202-225-3377
Web Email
David Scott, 13th District
Phone: 202-225-2939
Fax: 202-225-4628
Web Email
Cross-posted on my Georgia Podcast Network blog.
Update 11:46 a.m. See also: Griftdrift.
I’ve been mad for so long that now I’m just tired. It’s a lame excuse because I have been lazy in tending my little place but I’m thinking this Friday I am just going to fade into the internet audio ether.
Any idea if phone or email is generally more effective in putting bugs in ears?
Dave C.,
I’d say do both if you can as they can be effective for different reasons.
With email, it’s not likely they’ll pay much attention to what you write individually, but they’re likely to tally the number of messages they receive on a given subject.
With phone calls, you may get the chance to wear out a staffer’s ear. And if enough people called, you can jam their phone lines, which might be enough to at least get their attention.
Grift,
On the bright side…
The law of unintended consequences comes into effect here too. So much of what’s being played on Internet radio is being sold by the same people who lobbied for these laws. They’re going to kill a lot of their own free marketing.
The webcasters who want to stick around will have to look harder at the Creative Commons stuff that’s floating around like Jonathan Coulton.
In honor of Amber, I’ve retired the P word, even though its oh so appropriate here.
Where are the fucking Democrats? How do they not stand up and fight this fight? Fucking candyasses on both the national and local level.
There’s this song by local gal Doria Roberts called “Perfect”, and it is perfect, and I would have never discovered it without internet radio (please download it). Local music? What a concept.
Fuck you Dem’s for not fighting this fight (same goes with mass transit too, you fucking pathetic candyasses).
What do those fucking effete candyasses stand for? How do they not take the lead in this, and earn immeasurable props with everyone under 30 (even some of us between 30-40)?
On the national level, the big dog Dem’s have sold out their soul to sorporate interests just as much as Repub’s have i.e. Rahm Emannuel.
On the state level, they are so fucking clueless its not worth the time to type about it. Ya think DuBose Porter, Calvin Smyre, Shirley Franklin, Thurbert “Alien Hair” Baker, Mike Thurmond, David Adelman, Kasim Reed or even any of the lame ass Dem US Senate candidates give a fuck about this fight, even though its exactly the audience they need to win over? Do you think they even know what internet radio is?
Really? Is this some sort of real bad slash movie?
You’re right:?
Sorry. I meant to say,,,
You are kidding?
Right?
Seconding all of Trackboy’s points… why vote if the Dems are going to shill for stuff like this same as the Repubs?
Trackboy,
“Candyass” is much more appropriate. Why don’t you stick w/ that?
Will do. Candyass is growing on me.
Trying to keep the profanity in check, but this internet radio has got me fired up. I believe college radio has also had similar problems with the music industry powers that be, and the elected officials who schill for and enable them.
Repub’s are at least open and out front on schilling for big corporate interests. This is a no-brainer for Dem’s, but WTF do Dem’s stand for?
Elitest Pig Dog - Look the people are actually enjoying themselves learning, enjoying music, acting free and turning against the slave pen we’ve made for them.
Elitest Pig Dog 2 - Well then well just manipulate the laws again to show them there our slaves once again.
Elitest Pig Dog - Good Idea, lets start with the music we own that right?
Elitest Pig Dog 2 - Oh, yeah all of it and we can only let them have the brain washing stuff for free. Nothing like 12 year old girls singing britney spears.
Elitest Pig Dog - Oh I just love that we’ll restructure it to play all day on the stations we take over.
Elitest Pig Dog 2 - This should make it easier then to go after talk radio right? and videos on google like money masters? Cause we cant have the truth told to the slaves, i mean when i want a sandwich I don’t wanna have to wait or make it myself you know what I’m saying.
Elitest Pig Dog - I know just where your coming from, I had to wait 2 min. once it was hell, I think my stomach actually growled. Oh yeah and it’s all just domino’s we get this the rest will fall, there stupid and cant stand up for anything. We’ll just start another american idol up so they will watch that and we’ll move in.
Elitest Pig Dog - so then its agreed music first.
Elitest Pig Dog 2 - Aye, to the law system we created to further enslave!
Elitest Pig Dog - Tally HO! To the racketeering Mobile!
So much for democracy. And some free market economy. New industries are what make the big companies of tomorrow. There must always be new ideas. Lose the small business economy and there is no economy for tomorrow, except for what is already established. Big companies with no up and coming competitors stagnate and become less profitable. That is not capitalism. It sucks that politicians who once were voted in supporting Internet radio, have now changed their minds. Does that mean that campaign funds are added or subtracted? Do some of those funds go into back pockets? That’s corruption. Again, there isn’t much about all this, that is very democratic, or smacks of a free market, or really good for the future of our children. In 20 years from now when AT&T owns every telephone in the country, most of their lines will be 50 year old technology - without competition they won’t bother to upgrade their systems. The consequence is that your phone won’t work. The music industry is coming alive again. Without Internet Radio the world will be a sadder place, at a loss for new innovation, new talent, and new music. I for one do not want to be hearing Britney Spears on the radio in 20 years from now.