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Threat to Iowa Public Radio's online music streams
Stations that stream music online have received a temporary reprieve. Sound Exchange has announced it will allow stations to continue streaming music past July 15, as long as they're negotiating royalty payments in good faith with Sound Exchange.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has offered to pay the 2007 basic streaming costs that Sound Exchange is asking from stations, and Sound Exchange has accepted. Negotiations on a more permanent rate structure continue.
This isn't a permanent solution - but it allows public radio music broadcasters to continue their music streams online for a few more weeks during the negotiations. More than ever, it's important for you to make your voice heard.
What happens if the new royalties go into effect? We'll be forced to limit the number of listeners who can access our streams to keep our royalties affordable. We're loathe to do this because our mandate is to serve as many listeners as possible, in as many ways as we can.
What's going on now? Lawmakers have introduced the Internet Radio Equality Act in Congress. It rolls back some of the proposed fees, and establishes the principle that non-commercial broadcasters shouldn't pay the same rates as for-profit broadcasters.
Want more information about the CRB ruling and the Internet Radio Equality Act? Please visit SaveNetRadio.org. Here's more information about how the ruling affects public radio.
Contact your state's Senators and your district Representative with one electronic message by clicking here, or contact these Iowa representatives directly:
- Representative Leonard Boswell (3rd district)
- Representative Bruce Braley (1st district)
- Senator Charles Grassley
- Senator Tom Harkin
- Representative Steve King (5th district)
- Representative Tom Latham (4th district)
- Representative Dave Loebsack (2nd district)
We have compiled additional background information about this important issue.