[Mabeavyledlib]

American radio stations never play good music, anyway, so no big loss.

[Beedcardabeme]

Originally posted by LordShiva
American radio stations never play good music, anyway, so no big loss. Pandora and Soma FM both play great music.

[viepedorlella]

Soma was the shiz for chillaxing tunes. Does this affect podcasts too?

[CHEAPSOFTOEMONLINE]

Originally posted by Oerdin
At least in the US. The Republican Controlled Congress passed a bill last year which requires internet radio stations to pay 800%-1200% higher royalty fees then satellite radio basically meaning that most internet radio stations based out of the US will be going belly up in just three weeks. The sad fact is this is a direct result of lobbying from the old fashioned terrestrial radio stations and satellite radio companies who want to use regulations to shut down competition from internet radio sites which they have been unable to beat in the open market. This type of protectionism is bad for America because every other country will continue to develop internet radio but all the internet radio stations in the US will be forced into bankruptcy. The end result is people will still listen to internet radio but they will not be American companies that they listen to. This just doesn't make sense for the country as a whole.

Also traditional radio broadcasters aren't even legally required to pay royalties to artists because Congress has declared that radio is such a promotional value that radio stations don't need to pay royalty rates. Listen to this broadcast if you want to learn the details:

http://somafm.com/indiepop.pls

If you are an American Citizen and you would like to help end this unfair practice and prevent the bankruptcy of most of America's internet radio stations then go to www.savenetradio.org and send a letter to your Congressman. When the government here tried to be that restrictive with regards to radio stations the broadcasters just went offshore and flouted the rules. Eventually things changed.

[Podborodok]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison

When the government here tried to be that restrictive with regards to radio stations the broadcasters just went offshore and flouted the rules. Eventually things changed. I imagine that is what will happen. The RIAA will attempt to **** it's competition via regulations, the competition will just end up off shore, and hopefully people will figure out that the bastards at the RIAA acted unfairly and that the net result was to force thousands of American companies to move operations off shore.

[aaafluochugh]

Do you think it is plausible that we will see a reversal wherein the commercial stations will be on the net and all of the other services will migrate to the, hypothetically, abandoned airwaves?

[economex]

Do metal artists get royalties for the music played at gitmo? [/spinal tap]

Seriously though, I signed the petition the first time this came around (Nostromo posted it I think), and I'll fire off an email to my congressman. Thanks for keeping us updated, I care, but not enough to check up on this stuff myself.

[DoctorNiCYDEn]

I'm a ULC minister so I count on the "Rev." before my name giving my opinion some weight b/c it implies I have a flock of followers.

[chuecafressds]

Oh man this will suck... this will have extra-territorial affect, now these front orgs will push the same agenda in other countries as well.

Funny people should mention Soma, because that was my first thought as well....... becuase Soma FM kicks ass, it's my regular station as well. It can't just die, wtf?!?!?

[67Irralphaisa]

Originally posted by LordShiva
It appears as if 1.FM is affected, too A lot of radio stations is affected by this, that's why a lot of them has a "silent protest" today, by shutting off the radio station for one day

[Kingerix]

Yeah, great way to kill competition, lobbyist sexy has been victorious once again. It's BS how some of these 'media fronts' are ****ing up things around teh world, seems to me they have more power than some governments soon.

[Wrencytet]

Old Media is evil, period.

RIAA:

Pandora Radio:

Old Media would be ecstatic if they could find a way to do something similar to bloggers.

[Heessduernbub]

He's very timid when it comes to anything that could involve a box.

[Battwenue]

Interner radio about to be buried.

[Zhgrlpil]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker


What's special about it that's better than just listening to the music on my computer? Its a nice change of pace and its also a good way to discover new stuff. Sooner or later you get tired of your music. I have about 150 GB of music on my computer and even I get tired of it once in a while.

[glamourcitys]

Looking at it, I might use this just to find new artists to buy...

[LesLattis]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
Looking at it, I might use this just to find new artists to buy... Better use it fast because Pandora has officially said it can't afford to pay the new bill and will be closing shop on the 15th of next month.

[wpFWNoIt]

Listen to the link in the OP.

[velichay]

Pandora closed to all countries outside the US & UK because of the new fees, but no one says they are closing in the US..

[Qeiafib]

...So Pandora isn't closing?