was it red tape or just cost? it seems they're allowed to webcast...it's just that the fees which radio stations already pay for broadcasting songs will now be more so for the webcasted songs. WNTI seems to agree with paying the fee, but that it is too much.
Red tape... WABC AM was not allowed to webcaast for a long time, same with the big NYC stations... they have the money, it's just legalities...
I believe they want to charge additional fees on top of existing fees for broadcasting over the radio. Doesn't make sense: if you're already broadcasting on the radio, and paying royalties, then why should you have to pay $xxx more just to broadcast over the net too? It's the same music!!
What I can understand is radio stations that are broadcast over the net only and are paying no royalties. They should have to pay something, but again, the RIAA is charging ridiculous amounts, especially when most net streams are non-profit.
Also, WNTI is a free-form college radio station, and if I read WNTI's letter right, they're non-profit, and exempt from royalty payment. So if they can broadcast over the radio, why should they have to pay ridiculous amounts of money to broadcast over the net?
This is happening to other non-profit net radio station, such as SomaFM. They have shut down, because to just broadcast on the net, they would have to pay $15,000 a month. ugh ugh ugh
I thought the web was supposed to bring everyone closer...ha, once again...only if you have money.