June 27, 2007 Update
Once again you, our listeners came through for us. Over 11,000 people signed XPN's Online Petition. WXPN will forward the names of petitioners to the Washington, D.C. offices of Congressman Chaka Fattah and Senators Bob Casey and Arlen Specter.

Due to the huge numbers of Internet radio listeners who responded to this appeal, some of you may not have been able to sign the Petition, or get through to your Senators and Representatives. If so, it's not too late. You can still contact your members of Congress now by visiting SaveNetRadio.org and ask them to support the legislation currently pending that would set an Internet radio royalty rate fair to all involved.

SaveNetRadio.org
KurtHanson.com Radio and Internet Newsletter

June 22, 2007 Update

Please sign the Online Petition.

WXPN wlll join other Internet radio providers in a “Day of Silence” to protest higher royalty rates expected to go into effect on or after July 15.

Silence is what Internet radio may sound like after that date because of a royalty rate hike scheduled to go into effect. The new rates will also be retroactive for 17 months and payment will become due to the SoundExchange collection organization under the terms of a recent Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) decision. The new rates could cost WXPN more than $100,000 annually; several times the annual funds raised by business support on the Internet streams.

WXPN will silence our four streams – XPN, Y Rock On XPN, XPoNential Music and Folk Alley. No music will be heard but a message will be played directing listeners to sign an online petition to protest this increase. WXPN is seeking a minimum of 5,000 signatures. An on-air message will ask you, our listeners, to sign the petition. We are also planning two minutes of silence on-air at 4pm Tuesday.

We owe it to you, our audience, to raise awareness that your listening choices will be reduced if these fees go through, as we will be forced to at least reduce the number of listeners who can access our online streams at any given time. This reduction in the number of listeners will result in reduced exposure for the artists who need it most - WXPN artists.

Thank you. Be sure to stop back on Tuesday June 26, 2007 to sign the Online Petition.

More information: Internet Day of Silence, and Save Net Radio.

-Roger LaMay

May 11, 2007 Update
Save Public Radio Webcasting
Our battle to overturn the Copyright Royalty Arbitration Panel's decision to impose draconian rates for internet music streaming has gained some traction. We and our allies at National Public Radio and SaveNetRadio.org are seeking an equitable solution through Congress, the courts, and through negotiation. Most notably, both the House and Senate have introduced resolutions to enable financially viable internet streaming of music by non-commercial stations and independent commercial operators. The Internet Radio Equality Act would vacate the CRB's decision and set a 2006-2010 royalty rate at the same level currently paid by satellite radio services (7.5% of revenue.) The bill would also change the royalty rate-setting standard used in royalty arbitrations, so that the standards applying to webcasters would align with the standard that applies to satellite radio royalty arbitrations. The bill also re-sets the royalty rules for noncommercial radio such as WXPN stations that offer Internet radio music. Please contact your Congressional representative and ask her/him to co-sponsor the bill, HR 2060. More information on this issue, can be found at the Tell Them Public Matters website.

We Need Your Help!
Please take a moment to contact your Members of Congress to let your representatives know how much Internet radio means to you. Ask them to co-sponsor the Internet Radio Equality Act to save public radio webcasting. Act now!

April 24, 2007
Recently, the U.S Copyright Royalty Board issued a ruling that dramatically increases the royalties paid to rights holders for streaming music on the Internet. While public broadcasters have been paying negotiated royalties to music publishers/songwriters for some time, this marks the first time, due to increased activity and new technology that we have been asked to pay the “performers” royalties. The board ruling set new rates that are 250% above copyright royalties.

Even more ominous is that these royalties by themselves greatly exceed the revenues that the handful of public stations like XPN who are committed to music streaming generate or expect to generate in the near future. These services all are committed to playing artists who do not otherwise get airplay on commercial radio.

Section 118 of the Copyright Act of 1976 specified “a fair return to copyright owners without unfairly burdening public broadcasters.” Clearly this is not the case here. Therefore, Congress will introduce a bill this week addressing both noncommercial and commercial streaming services, the “Internet Radio Equality Act”. This legislation recognizes public radio’s public service mission and will put these royalties under the same system and standards as the royalties we currently pay to the publishers/songwriters. We believe artists should be fairly compensated but under a system that allows the continuing operation and development of the Internet streaming of music that does not get exposure in commercial broadcasting.

Please contact your congressional representatives in the next week and ask them to co-sponsor and support the Internet Radio Equality Act. The future of non-commercial Internet music streaming depends on getting relief from this onerous new burden. We are pursuing this acknowledgement of the special role of public broadcasting in negotiations, through legislation and in the courts.

Thank you and stay tuned.

Roger LaMay, General Manager WXPN