Interesting Spin On The New US Webcast Rates

[saint]

Why The New Webcasting Rates Are A Death Sentence For Webcasters

 

When the announcement came out this week that webcasters had somehow "come to an agreement" with SoundExchange over webcasts, what was unbelievable was that many presented this as a "victory" for webcasters. Hell, even SoundExchange made public statements about how it was disappointed by the rates, but it was an "experiment." But when you looked at the actual numbers, this made no sense. The rates are ridiculously high when compared to royalty rates for traditional radio or satellite radio. Michael Robertson breaks down the numbers and explains away the myths of this deal. It will almost certainly bankrupt nearly every webcaster out there. Robertson focuses on the big webcasters, and points out that the 25% royalty rate promoted by the press isn't accurate at all, and for a company like Pandora the real rate will be north of 40% of revenue -- which is not even close to sustainable.

 

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20090710/0331255511.shtml

[johny c]

Yes they want the web broadcaster's to go under, simple as that. One less problem for them to worry about. But I think there will come a time when the recording industry is the one thats going to go under. I cant wait. The only way things are going to change is when all the people at the top in the recording industry start to die off, but I dont think I'll live long enough to see that day.

[voodoohippie]

I read somewhere that the RIAA already had to pay back the extortion like lawsuits to the very file sharing world of people who actually were guilty of sharing files. I believe some of these bots we're getting is not always stream rippers, but the RIAA themselves trying to see what we're up to. If you run a shoutcast server I suggest running Peer Guardian and keeping it up to date. I'll be your bots will go bye bye. Plus you can add them to the ban list.

 

Back to topic: What about non profit stations like mine? I started my station in retaliation against Top 40 and Rap being forced down our throats. I don't make $$ from my station just the satisfaction that I'm helping people re discover the fact that there are more artists to listen to than just the top 40-100 whatever chart Rock songs pushed by the RIAA.

 

I'm sure the commercial Radio industry would love to see my station off the Internet because I don't conform to pop Radio activities. Yes I'm licensed, but No I won't repeat songs over and over again. So is my little 10 slot station in any trouble? I am licensed through swcast.net.

[Blazin 97]

The record companies want to put Internet Radio out of business, it is simply something they do not want to deal with. Plus, a good chunck of webcasters don't play the royalties for the copyrighted music they play, and these "internet pirates" can be hard to be tracked down with a faithful audience of just a few listeners. Compared to "terrestrial pirates" which are simply broadcasting on a frequency illegally without a liscense.

 

If these did go into effect, my station would most likely start playing commercials, which would be a shame, because our whole pitch is that it's "commercial free hip hop and r&b". Even with commercials, we would probably not be able to afford these new fees and end up closing our doors, that's if we want to stay legal, anyways :D

[jamesdean]

people will just stream illegally, many have for years and many will for years to come, there have always been radio pirates, the internet just makes it easier for them.

[RadioBrandy]

The record companies want to put Internet Radio out of business,

The NAB, has allot more to do with this than you might think; as they really want the Indie Internet radio station gone! Just like they have prevented micro radio stations like Johny's, from being allowed here in the United States legally.

 

Nobody wants to go pirate! Sometimes the bullies, leave the little guys no other choice. I think it's finally backfiring on big corporate radio; as listeners and advertisers abandon them in droves. The folks are slowly catching on to the fact the bullies in broadcasting; with the help of the RIAA are beating up on the little guys out of pure greed and want no part of them.

 

 

Steve

www.radiobrandy.com

[voodoohippie]

No I don't want to have to go 100% Pirate, but I'll do what I have to do to keep my station alive. Even if I have to use Streamerp2p and use an anonymous proxy or a series of proxies that change every few seconds like a Gatling gun. It may cause a few clicks, but I'm sure most Progressive Rock fans will feel threatened and stop listening to non Progressive Rock stations and stop purchasing non Progressive Rock, Classic Alternative Rock or Hair metal material. If we all join forces and boycott the RIAA we can starve them out if we get the shaft. Plus there is always open Wifi for real dedicated Radio Broadcasters to use. I say little Royalties are better than none at all and if they get too greedy that is what they'll get from most independent Radio broadcasters.

 

On a liter note there is always Ad Supported licensing where a group such as SWcast could host stations free via ads just like Listen2myradio only instead of server hosting it could go to license providing. When you go to your page there would be ad banners and maybe you'd have to stream ads for swcast.net to pay for your license. A hobby station could still stay on legally. I don't see any threat that my little 10 slot station would impose on anyone.