The controversy rolls on about Internet radio royalty fees, accentuated by NPR’s strong statement of protest.
Today, they will issue a formal petition with the CRB panel that instituted the new exorbitant rate structure. This is the first step in the appeal process.
As NPR spokesperson, Andi Sporkin noted, "This decision penalizes public radio stations for fulfilling their mandate, it penalizes emerging and non-mainstream musical artists who have always relied on public radio for visibility, and ultimately it penalizes the American public, whose local station memberships and taxes will be necessary to cover the millions of dollars that will now be required as payment. On behalf of the public radio system, NPR will pursue all possible action to reverse this decision, which threatens to severely reduce local stations’ public service and limit the reach of the entire music community."
Where is commercial radio amidst this difficult situation? While public radio and NPR have a great deal to lose because of these rate hikes, so do commercial broadcasters, many of whom have begun to build up substantial streaming audiences. Everyone in radio needs to step up and be heard.
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Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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Where was this outrage when the entire industry capitulated to the FCC without a fight and crippled it’s ability to compete with other media choices?
I also have been waiting to hear the outcry by the big commercial broadcasters. Perhaps the feeling is that they’ve got the business model to succeed and the rates will force all the smaller webcasters (and competition) off the internet.
I do hope I’m dead wrong.