My Dear Friends, as some of you may already know, Internet Radio may soon cease to exist. Starting on May 15th, 2007 when new rates for streaming music set by the Copyright Office in Washington, DC go into affect, many small internet radio stations like SOMA FM and most of what is on iTunes radio will be forced to shut down. The new rates will increase over the next coming years and will force other services like Pandora.com to close. The new royalty rates are irrationally high, more than four times what satellite radio pays and broadcast radio doesn't pay these rates at all. Left unchanged, these new royalties will kill every internet radio site. This action has come about in my opinion by the very big and greedy record industry that doesn't like the fact that they no longer have the music recording monopoly that they once did. You may hear the arguement that these new rates will in fact ensure that "the Artist" will get their royalties for played music, but that is not the case. That is just shear horse shit and just an attempt on the Record Industries part to gain support. The new higher rates do not put anymore money into the pockets of the artist, only big record industries'. The whole royalty and mechanical royalty rate standard would have to be reassessed for musicians and artists by to truly get their due.

In response to these new and unfair fees, we have formed the SaveNetRadio Coalition, a group that includes listeners, artists, labels and webcasters.

The Internet is a wonderful thing in that it truly reflects what people want, not just a select few.
I hope that you will consider joining us.

Please sign our very well thought out and acting petition urging your Congressional representative to act to
save internet radio:
capwiz.com/saveinternet...issues/alert/