WASHINGTON, June 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- After holding an open-air concert on the lawn of the United States Senate last night, Members of the SaveNetRadio coalition visited Capitol Hill again today to gather support for legislation pending in the House and Senate. Thirty-one artists traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with more than 50 lawmakers today to discuss the importance of Internet radio and the threat a March 2nd ruling by the Copyright Royalty Board poses to the future of Net radio and the artists it supports.
"The fight to preserve music diversity on the Internet is as much about artists and listeners as it is about webcasters," said SaveNetRadio spokesperson, Jake Ward. "Artists understand that the future of Net radio is at stake, and they recognize that that if Net radio dies, artists will lose a valuable tool for promoting their music and finding new fans. The only viable solution is to establish a fair system that supports well-earned compensation for artists who create music and a sustainable business model for webcasters playing that music. More than 6,000 individual artists and bands have joined the SaveNetRadio coalition and the fight to save Internet radio from the unprecedented and illogical March 2nd royalty rate increase imposed by the Copyright Royalty Board. The SaveNetRadio coalition and its partners appreciate the time and energy these artists have dedicated to come to Washington to speak with Members of Congress today, and we encourage more artists that benefit from Internet airplay to follow their example."
The Internet Radio Equality Act, H.R. 2060/S. 1353 was introduced by Representative Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Donald Manzullo (R-IL) in the House and Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) in the Senate. This legislation would vacate the Copyright Royalty Board's decision and set a 2006-2010 royalty rate at the same level currently paid by satellite radio services (7.5% of revenue.) as well as change the royalty rate-setting standard used in royalty arbitrations so that the standards applied to webcasters would align with the standard that applies to satellite radio royalty arbitrations.
For more information on the SaveNetRadio Coalition, the Capitol Concert, and legislation pending in Congress, visit [Link].
