What's with the obsession of big business to screw technological advancement if it gives people something for free? Why can't they leave a good thing alone, and let progress prosper? My apologies if this subject has been diaried to any extent, but I did not find anything and feel a need to attempt to circulate some information amongst this community.
I moved to Pittsburgh, PA, in 2000, and was sincerely sad to lose such a personally appreciated resource, KEXP.org, a Seattle based radio station (affiliated with the University of Washington). Low and behold, Paul Allen of Microsoft fame and money offered to finance the station a new facility and live streaming capability (got my issues with billionaires, but Mr. Allen has made a few good investments I can appreciate). I have been in heaven since (I have been and always will be a donating supporter of the station, a "listener member" as they claim). Then along comes Copyright Royalty Board (CRB), a potential Public Service travesty.
If this diary has legs, please visit KEXP and wait to be wowed (try listening through iTunes, my preferred method of access). It is in my opinion the finest music and commentary destination available in the world! (personal opinion, but you can only win if you play, right? so see for yourself, then weigh my opinion)
I believe I listen to possibly the best [goddam] radio station in the world: KEXP out of Seattle. I have been a listener since the '80s, back when their signal reached about two miles outside of the University of Washington campus. I have benefitted so much from their format, it has possibly shaped me as a person. From the music format which excels in alternative, but includes everything from Frank Sinatra to the Grateful Dead to improvisational jazz to world music, they also feature some of the best political and social commentary every Saturday morning (way beyond what is available on my local NPR programming); featured music shows every evening 6-9 and throughout the weekend; and outstanding live shows from their studio (check out the incredible archives you can access). You really don't need any other music source (opinion)!
So it was with horror that I read how the CRB might impact internet radio. I buy [some] music because I heard it on this station, definately not because of the lame crap they air on the commercial Pittsburgh stations. Even the local "hip" public supported station is a yawner. Sorry Yinzers, you're years behind on the trends, and it's obvious by simply turning on the radio. The unnamed station is appreciated, I simply have other, more progressive and extreme tastes (I also support the local NPR affiliated station by donating; gotta have my news in the car).
So not only might the CRB simply take away KEXP's ability to stream great music, but my ability to hear musicians I may never hear and learn about, and possibly support by buying their music, may be taken away. Who wins with that? (this will also affect other elements of webcasting, so it ain't all about me, folks)
So what exactly is going on? Who and what is the CRB? Well, once again, the government steps in (in this case, the Library of Congress), most likely urged by lobbyists representing the music industry, to insure I may not get something for free. Wouldn't it be a shame if TIME/Warner, Sony/BMG or one of the other large music behemoth's might not make an extra buck here or there! Cryin shame.
Now, I'm no expert on law or read contracts worth a crap, and I by no means want to see any musicians get screwed out of their worth, but I do pay for the ability to listen to KEXP (my choice, not mandatory requirement, i.e. pay for satellite radio), so I don't necessarily listen for free. However, KEXP is listener supported, and they have links to buy the music, so they do offer to help sell music beyond simply playing it and leaving me to locate a resource. And, like I mentioned, I have and will continue to buy music I hear and like on the station. But it appears we have new rules that may change that.
The new statutory license for digital audio transmission of sound recordings was expanded in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (“DMCA”), Public Law 105-304, 112 Stat. 2860 (1998). It provided that certain digital transmissions and retransmissions, typically referred to as webcasting, are subject to the section 106(6) digital performance right and that webcasters who transmit/retransmit sound recordings on an interactive basis, as defined in section 114(j), must obtain the consent of, and negotiate fees with, individual owners of those recordings. However, webcasting would be eligible for statutory licensing when done on a noninteractive basis. Accordingly, Congress created another statutory license in sections 114(d)(2) & (f)(2) for “eligible nonsubscription transmissions,” which include non-interactive
transmissions of sound recordings by webcasters. 17 U.S.C. 114(d)(2). To qualify for that license, the webcaster must comply with several conditions in addition to those that the DPRA applied to preexisting subscription and satellite radio services. As with these service royalties, webcaster royalties are allocated on a 50-50 basis to copyright owners and to performers.
A real brief description of what this means, and what is happening to contest it is:
The future of Internet radio is in immediate danger. Royalty rates for webcasters have been drastically increased by a recent ruling and are due to go into effect on July 15 (retroactive to Jan 1, 2006!). If the increased rates remain unchanged, the majority of webcasters will go bankrupt and silent on this date. Internet radio needs your help! H.R. 2060, The Internet Radio Equality Act was introduced by Representatives Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Donald Manzullo (R-IL ) to save the Internet radio industry. Please call your congressperson to ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 2060.
All this diary intends to do is help KEXP and similar resources tap into this grassroots vehicle to see if there is something we can do to help. If it's important to anyone else -- and I hope to see someone smarter maybe splain this whole thing to me -- please follow-up. Here's some more links and information, so follow the instructions as I plan to do, as it's been suggested I contact my Senators and Congressmen. After all this wonderful resource has done for and given to me, it's the least I can do.
http://blog.wired.com/...
Save The Streams
www.savethestreams.org
RAIN: Radio and Internet Newsletter
www.kurthanson.com
Future of Music Coalition
www.futureofmusic.org