WSJ: Online-Radio Royalty Fight Reaches New Pitch

``... the Internet Radio Equality Act, would replace higher performance-royalty rates, unveiled in March, which charge Webcasters a fee per song and per listener, with a rate of about 7.5% of revenue. While that could reap the record labels less money in many cases than the per-song, per-play fee schedule that Webcasters are railing against, it would still generate more than the music companies get from other sources. Satellite radio pays about 3.5% to 4% of revenue in performance royalties. Because airplay for years was seen as promotional, regular radio doesn't pay anything, though the record labels are trying to change that.``