Small Label Waives Web Radio Fees

Independent record label Artemis Records said it would waive fees charged to Internet radio stations that play music from the Artemis record catalog for one year. “We’re a small company with a lot of music that doesn’t get played on commercial radio,” Artemis Chief Executive Danny Goldberg told Reuters. “I appreciate the Webcaster. In terms of the future, the diversity they offer is valuable to a label like ours. I wanted to make a gesture of support.”
NAB and several radio groups have appealed a recent decision by the U.S. Copyright office that Webcasters are not exempt from the obligations to pay song royalties. Broadcasters argue they already pay copyright royalties and should not be charged twice for music that airs on a station and is also streamed.