260 genres of music on live365.com and elsewhere are endangered on the internet. Right now, Internet radio is singled out from all other radio and burdened with fees not paid by AM or FM stations; it's rates are at least 3-4 times paid by satellite and cable radio. The ruling earlier this year by the Copyright Royalty Board, a percent increase in royalty costs to the broadcasters and portals like live365, even includes an absurd minimum of $500 per station per year to most penalize the smallest webcasters; the board more recently denied webcasters' requests for a rehearing.
If you believe in the rich culture of the American West, for example, you will want to support HR2060. One internet radio station playing for free (it's ad-supported; also there's a monthly subscription option for ad-free listening at live365.com) is called "Saddle Songs"-- traditional Western songs of historical interest. There are other broadcasters from perhaps your own town or city playing right now, to people all around the world. A loss of many artists' music that's dependent on internet play would be a blow to them financially, as the new much higher royalty fees (actually they're retroactive to January 1, 2006!) would close down broadcasters and small businesses like live365.
The Internet Radio Equality Act (HR 2060) has been introduced in Congress by U.S. Representative Jay Inslee (D-WA). A simple phone call to your Representative to ask for their support on this Bill will go a long way toward ensuring your right to diversity and choice in radio. Better yet, please also write and fax to show how serious you are. They need to know how much your music means to you. Click here for the number of your Representative and please call.
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