Super 91.7 WMPH has become the first radio station in the country to take a stand against the Music First Coalition.  Hopefully, this is the start of something much larger.

From the WMPH website:

The National Association of Broadcasters is fighting efforts by musicFirst, a new coalition of recording artists, including Christina Aguilera, Rihanna, and Natasha Bedingfield, demanding performance royalties from radio stations. "Congress has long recognized that radio airplay of music generates millions of dollars in revenue for record labels and artists," said Dennis Wharton, NAB spokesman. "Were it not for radio's free promotional airplay of music on stations all over America, most successful recording artists would still be playing in a garage."

WMPH and many other stations across the country are saying NO to this insatiable greed. The musicFirst coalition of artists is attempting to hurt the radio stations, disc jockeys, and fans that have always been their greatest ally. Radio has done so much to promote their careers by playing their music frequently, interviewing them, and mentioning their concerts and events on the air. Artists make their money by record sales and performing at concerts. Without radio's free publicity for over 60 years, most artists would likely be neither rich nor famous.

Hopefully this will open up airplay for smaller artists who appreciate what radio gives them.  Most people aren't aware of this, but musicians do not pay to get their music on the air.  It's all done for free.  The radio station doesn't receive any payment for promoting the artists.  These lobbying groups need to be stopped.  These are the same people who sponsored the Feinstein-Graham PERFORM act (to gouge satellite providers) and the recent changed by the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) that will put an end legal internet radio though massive royalty rate increases (see www.SaveNetRadio.org).

Here's the good news:  WMPH may be a small station, but their big action is getting some big attention.  I'm keeping a list of sites that pick up the story.

06/20/2007

• The Infinite Dial: From The First State, A First Shot Against Music First
• Midnight Blue Says: Gotta Get That Dough, Sista's

06/21/2007

• Rusty On Radio: Non-comm WMPH Boycotts Music First Coalition Artists

Here's a letter that I've just sent to Mike Castle (Delaware's Representative) in the hopes of securing his support for the Internet Radio Equality Act.

Dear Congressman Castle,

I am writing you today in the hope that you will support the "Internet Radio Equality Act" that has recently been introduced by Reps. Jay Inslee and Don Manzullo.

The royalty rates that the Copyright Royalty Board has recently approved will have far-reaching ramifications if they are permitted to stand.  The rate schedule that has been approved is so unreasonable that it makes continued operation of legal internet radio impossible. The schedule unfairly targets internet radio, and the rates are several times higher than those for similar markets (such as satellite radio or terrestrial FM).

As background, I am a volunteer with Super 91.7 WMPH.  WMPH is owned and operated by the Brandywine school district, and is operated as an educational station.  I am responsible for all our streaming infrastructure.  Since we are a very low power station (100W), our internet presence is our primary way of reaching our audience.  The same is true of both FM and pure internet stations all over the country.  I do not wish to lose internet radio.

At this point, legal internet radio will become untenable unless action if taken to reverse the decision of the Copyright Royalty Board in the very near future.  The rates are scheduled to take effect on 07/15/07 (with huge retroactive clauses).

I hope that you can support the "Internet Radio Equality Act".

I appreciate your time.  Thank you very much.

-Ben Yanis

Please contact me if I can be of any assistance or offer any clarifications.

Followup (06/19/2007):

Mike Castle has sent me a reply.  He (very diplomatically) declined to answer my concerns.  See below for the full text.