NewswireToday - /newswire/ - Marion, NC, United States, 04/28/2007 - There has been a lot of attention recently surrounding royalty rates for internet broadcasters. Let's have a look.

As a webcaster, artist, and owner of WebcastersUnite.net I would like to address some of the statements being made by SoundExchange.

Lets first look at the recent claims SoundExchange has made about reaching out to small webcasters. My organization currently has 358 registered internet radio stations. SoundExchange has not "reach out " to me, nor any other small organization of webcasters that I am aware of. I believe this to be rhetoric in an effort to make them look like the good guys, when in reality they would like the small webcaster removed from the scenario altogether. It has been obvious through their own press releases that they don't care to have small webcasters exist. They even went as far as implying the small webcasters were overly saturating the internet with stations. They knew the bloated rates would force most broadcasters to close their stations. Now they are reaching out? Sorry don't believe that one. It is just a ploy to try and make people believe they are somehow the good guys.

Now that the Internet Radio Equality Act has been introduced they are calling a foul. SoundExchange doesn't like the fact that this bill levels the playing field for broadcasters by setting royalty rates equally between the different broadcast mediums. What is unfair about it? If other broadcast mediums pay a much smaller rate why should'nt internet radio be allowed to pay that same rate?

SoundExchanges response is to try and divide webcasters by making statements like this "Because the bill is so heavily favored to enrich the big webcasters, it raises questions as to who is really behind the SaveNetRadio Coalition," observed Simson. They want to pull unknowing artists over to their side with statements like this "Although this coalition purports to be on the side of musicians, they have come out in support of this anti-artist bill." I say Bunk! There is nothing contained in this bill that is anti-artist. It is a well known fact that internet radio supports artists, all artists not just the ones certain labels want played. If SoundExchange wants to help artists they should visit AM and FM radio whom do not pay a performance royalty at all, not try to make internet radio foot the bill for everyone.

In closing I will add that the SaveNetRadio Coalition has done an excellent job of informing everyone of the issues and consequences surrounding the internet radio rates. Knowledge is power. If people know and understand the facts they will react accordingly. At the end of the day they will make up their own minds. What's fair and what isn't will be decided by each individual. If internet radio is to survive the Internet Radio Equality Act must pass through congress. Otherwise internet radio as we know it will disappear. As an involved party I would ask anyone reading this to weigh the evidence. If you feel internet radio should pay 300-1200% more than any other broadcast medium, do nothing. If you feel all broadcasters should pay the same rate go savenetradio.org and contact your representatives. Ask them to co-sponsor the Internet Radio Equality Act.

Agency / Source: Webcasters Unite - Radio Amber

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