Five of the major broadcasting groups along with the National Religious Broadcasters have asked the Librarian of Congress to put aside or amend the streaming royalty rates recommended by the Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel. The panel set the rate at .07 cents per performance for stations simulcasting their programming on the Internet and 14 cents per performance for any work Webcast with no accompanying radio broadcast.
CBS Broadcasting, Clear Channel Communications, Entercom Communications Corp., National Religious Broadcasters Music License Committee, Salem Communications Corp., Susquehanna Radio Corp. call the rates arbitrary and unreasonable. “If left to stand, (the rates) will drive streaming broadcasters and Webcasters out of these businesses,” stated the groups in the petition. The petitioners asked the LOC to make the rate for simulcasting .02 cents per performance.
The LOC intends to make a final decision on the CARP rate recommendations by May 17, but many analysts say the matter is years away from a conclusion.
Major Groups Protest Streaming Rates
Major Groups Protest Streaming Rates