Streamers are getting a short reprieve.
The Copyright Royalty Board rolled back its deadline for online stations to make their music royalty payments under new rates. The deadline, which was May 15, is now July 15.
New rates have been published in the Federal Register. NPR plans to file an appeal within the allotted 30-day time period.
SaveNetRadio welcomed the news and planned to lobby lawmakers about what it calls the “devastating” new rates. The group of artists, labels, listeners, and Webcasters led a rally in Washington this week to discuss a bill they say would vacate the new rates and give Internet radio a royalty rate that is similar to those of satellite and cable radio.
SoundExchange, the non-profit entity that collects the fees and supported the increases, said the CRB’s changes are necessary to compensate artists adequately.
