As most of you know, I run the only US Civil War/WBTS radio in Europe and as far as I know also in the US on a 24/7 basis. I`ve been doing this for nearly 3 years know. It has been my "thing" and hobby.
The future of WBTS Radio and Internet radio is in immediate danger. Royalty rates for webcasters have been drastically increased by a recent ruling and are due to go into effect on May 15 (retroactive to Jan 1, 2006 !!!!! ). If the increased rates remain unchanged, the majority of webcasters will go bankrupt and silent on this date.
For me personally, it seems I have to pay the greedy music industry additional $1000 ((retroactive to Jan 1, 2006 !!!!! )) to stay on the air. What few know is that Internet radio do pay royalties, traditional radio does NOT pay royalties to record labels or artists for songs performed over the air.
I have during my period payed close to $2000 to my network for their services and in these payments royalties have been included. Additional - payments for buying music are not included in this ( payment for royalties are also included in these purchases - as we all do when we buy music..), so I am sure the equal amount have been spent on music too.
During these years I have not earned one cent, but that havn`t been my goal either. It has been my service to the community - a curious add on in the myriad of sites and services in the Civil War community on the Net. I have also been on the boards here on History-Sites.com since 2003/04 and have enjoyed it every day since day 1 !
At the moment I am very depressed, because I don`t know where this is heading. My network is fighting hard, but "our side" did loose the first round in the courts. This ruling goes into effect on the May 15th - and every broadcaster have to "pay up" to stay on the air. So, on this day the major part of all the Internet radios will be silent in all the major networks.
If this will be the case, I`ll be having my last broadcast on May 12th on WBTS Radio,my friends.
The Internet Radio Equality Act has just been introduced by Representatives Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Donald Manzullo (R-IL ) to save the Internet radio industry. As you know,I am one of the "foreigners" on the board, and I do have little influence on US politics, so I have to ask you all to help me by calling your congressperson to ask them to co-sponsor this bill by clicking below.
http://www3.capwiz.com/saveinternetradio/callalert/index.tt?alertid=9679516&type=TA
Here are some additional links of information:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,130874/article.html
http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/004125.html
With best regards,
Roy H Larsen
Tel: (713) 893 8039