NetRadio: The Day the Music Died, Maybe

The Day the Music Died, Maybe
By Kwan Booth
July 15 could mark the end of the web as we hear it. That is the day new royalty rates take effect for Internet radio stations based in the United States. Opponents say the new fees, which will increase the yearly amount paid by Internet broadcasters by 300 to 1200 percent over the next five years, will effectively wipe out the industry.

On March 2, alarms sounded throughout the music community when the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) ruled that Internet radio stations will now be charged based on the number of listeners. The CRB is the government organization charged with overseeing sound recording royalties paid by Internet radio services. Previously, stations paid a percentage of their revenue.

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