I know that there are many of you out there that enjoy the internet radio/webcasting site Pandora, and for good reason. It’s a great site created to assist the music listener in discovering new music based on the listeners already decided likes. Pick an artist that you are a fan of and Pandora will suggest endless possibilities of artists that you might like based on a very complex system that involves analyzing hundreds of details of songs. They analyze and match.

Now, it’s not just Pandora that needs your help right now, it’s the entire webcasting/internet radio world. Once again the giant corporate radio mongers are doing all they can to make it more difficult for these ententies to exist. I received an e-mail from Pandora founder Tim Westergen early today, and I’m sure many others did as well, that details the issue at hand. Please read and please take action.

Hi, it’s Tim from Pandora;

After a yearlong negotiation, Pandora, SoundExchange and the RIAA are finally optimistic about reaching an agreement on royalties that would save Pandora and Internet radio.  But just as we’ve gotten close, large traditional broadcast radio companies have launched a covert lobbying campaign to sabotage our progress.

Yesterday, Congressman Jay Inslee, and several co-sponsors, introduced legislation to give us the extra time we need but the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), which represents radio broadcasters such as Clear Channel, has begun intensively pressuring lawmakers to kill the bill. We have just days to keep this from collapsing.

This is a blatant attempt by large radio companies to suffocate the webcasting industry that is just beginning to offer an alternative to their monopoly of the airwaves.

Please call your Congressperson right now and ask them to support H.R. 7084, the Webcaster Settlement Act of 2008 – and to not capitulate to pressure from the NAB.  Congress is currently working extended hours, so even calls this evening and over the weekend should get answered.

If the phone is busy, please try again until you get through. These calls really do make a difference.

Representative Lloyd Doggett: 202-225-4865

Thanks so much for you ongoing support.

Tim

Please take the time to contact your local Representative and voice your opinion.

This entry was posted on Saturday, September 27th, 2008 at 8:45 am and is filed under general music news, recommended.