The Internet and a small device costing less than $50 have brought the whole wide world of quality radio into our living room.
Any radio station worth its salt now webcasts, often in a high-definition format and sometimes through multiple streams. By hard-wiring my computer to my stereo system through a HiFi Link (a more expensive wireless version also is available) I can listen to such superb stations as WBGO (Jazz) in Newark, New Jersey, WXPN (Alternative) in Philadelphia and KJAZ (Jazz) in Long Beach, California.
Well, it’s been swell, but now the feds have crashed the party.
The U.S Copyright Royalty Board recently issued a ruling that could dramatically increase the cost of streaming music on the Internet. Even more ominous is that the proposed royalties by themselves greatly exceed the revenue that these terrific listener-supported public radio stations generate from their streams.
What to do? Write your congressperson and support your favorite stations with a tax-deductible donation.
More here.
Hey, and while we’re on the subject, if you have a favorite station, let us know what, where and why.