RE: Save Internet Radio from RIAA Fascism

----------------- Bulletin Message -----------------
From: Information Revolution
Date: Apr 29, 2007 5:30 AM


----------------- Bulletin Message -----------------
From: Elise at Indie Pop Rocks! on SomaFM
Date: 28 Apr 2007, 11:40 PM


Almost all internet radio is going to have to shut down now because the CRB wouldn't give anyone a rehearing. The first payments are due May 15th, and they're retroactive to January of 2006, which means if the ruling holds, a lot of us are already in deep, deep debt (I didn't say shit, although I wanted to...oh. Wait. I just did.) to the RIAA. Many webcasters are shutting down early. Many others are thinking of May 15th as D-Day.

SomaFM doesn't want to shut down, so we've joined a new coalition called SaveNetRadio (www.SaveNetRadio.org). Our coalition is made up of artists, labels, webcasters, and listeners who want to save internet radio. We managed to put a new piece of legislation together, a bill called the Internet Radio Equality Act (H.R. 2060), and it was introduced to Congress by Representatives Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Donald Mazullo (R-IL) this past Thursday, April 26th. In it, we're asking for a rate structure that is fair, so that we can stay on the air.

Rusty Hodge (the General Manager for SomaFM) and I are heading to Washington D.C. this week to meet with Congresspeople and try to gain support for the bill.

What we need more than anything right now is for everyone – listeners, musicians, artists, label owners, band managers, sound engineers, college kids, grandmas – who believes internet radio should be treated fairly by the RIAA, SoundExchange, and the CRB, to call, write, and/or fax their Congressperson(s), and ask them to support the Internet Radio Equality Act (H.R. 2060).

So, how can you find out who your Congressperson is, and get their phone number? Just enter your zip code into SaveNetRadio's handy Congressperson finder (in the grey box that says "CALL NOW"), and they will give you a page with your Congressperson's name, phone number, hours, and a list of "talking points" that you can refer to during your phone call.

I fear that if we don't get our bill passed, the RIAA will think it has a green light to go forth and do a lot more damage. Every voice that speaks up to help internet radio (and therefore, independent artists) counts!