What do you think about the new royalties being imposed on internet radio?
i don't think it's right. It just seems like the best music stations are always the smallest and the most deserving of financial assistance. But that would be in a perfect world, wouldn't it? -- Stefan Gagnon (Montreal, Quebec), April 1, at 5:26p
I think this is disgusting. This seems to me like eating your own arm to save yourself from starvation. Think about all the intangiable benefits of allowing people to sample and fall in love with music. It's sad to think that all music lovers will be channeled into more viable trading corners, devoid of love and imagination. I support internet radio, and the chance to share ideas through music. -- Matthew Regan (Taiwan), June 26, at 7:32p
This royalty nonsense is ruining Music! -- guiness (SC), June 23, at 1:42p
I love Internet radio and Groovesalad in particular. I was pissed off when Pandora was forced to shut down for non-US listeners like me, so I found me a nice proxy and listen anyway. The only effect that the US copyright policy will have is to push potential business abroad. The amount of royalties they are after simply does not exist. But hey, guess how cheap it is to buy a big fat server in some obscure country without any copyright legislation at all :-) Keep up the good work and many kudos. -- Roguerilla (Amsterdam, Holland), June 18, at 5:14p
Hi! I just want to say that if there is anything I could do for you to help in the fight I would. As soon I recive my next month pay I will donate the $50, just to show my support. It's been like 2 years since I last listen to the stations but now I am back and I really understand now what was mising in my life... ;) Thx 4 gr8t music! I recently lost the way to listen to pandora, and I really dont what to lose you! Keep up the fight! With al hopes, prayes and thanks from Stockholm -- Johannes (Sweden), June 17, at 1:43p
SomaFM has helped me to discover more new (and old) music than any other radio programme of any form. As a result, I reckon that nearly half of my music collection now consists of tunes that I've bought after hearing them played on SomaFM. Frankly, I think the decision to charge Internet radio stations such enormous amounts, and make it retrospective by over a year, is disgusting and could only have come from people who view anyone promoted music from outside of the big music corporations as the enemy who must be crushed. :( Good luck getting these cash-grabbing barstewards kicked into touch (or in their privates, if possible... :D) -- Alan (UK), May 22, at 2:03p
I live in the country, where until now is very complicatedly to legally acquire really interesting music. SomaFM - one of a few possibilities for me to listen such a music and to become acquainted with the new musicians and albums. I don't have so large collection of ambient and I love to fall asleep and to be wake up under Drone Zone vibes. I wish you luck and forces to solve all these problems. Russia with you! Fight with RIAA! -- Dmitriy (Russia, Moscow), May 20, at 4:53p
This is a typical thing going on in the internet - especially in the states. evrything has to be spoiled. everytime under the aspect for more more and more money. it seems to be a unwriten rule. most of this bullshit is coming out of the states and is taken after a while to all countries arround the world - except the asia. there should be something like mr. thorwalds invention at the programmingsector for the music scene. i think we have to pay attention when the first internetradio like soma is coming from asia. and there the us gov has no force. -- isoto (south germany), May 19, at 12:05a
Terrible that your international listenership can't do anything about it (can we? Would moving the hub across a border change the decision, or is the RIAA junk internationally binding?) That said, some people have been asking what the point of killing internet radio was. The answer is simple: They aren't killing internet radio. They're killing *free* internet radio. If internet radio stations are forced to run ads (or essentially become smaller XM-style pay-by-month companies), the RIAA will be able to make far more money off of them than they are now. See, free things are generally all terribly inefficient. Why give away music when people are willing to pay money for it? Why run ad-free when people are willing to put up with commercials? Why leave people to enjoy music when you can bleed them for money? -- William (Ontario (Canada)), May 17, at 2:37p
What complete and utter bo**ocks!! these proposed new royalty rates! The record companies should be paying you! I have bought many new tracks after hearing them on SomaFM Groove Salad and it has opened my eyes to many US Import artists that without your station I wouldn't of even known about! So this proposed new bill makes no sense what so ever! Could you not host your servers in a different country / region such as Europe to get round this? Keep up the good tunes.. Love and respect to SomaFM! -- James (England (UK)), May 17, at 6:51a
I love Somafm. it would truly be a shame if they fell silent. The new royalties to be imposed will force "non mainstream" radio off the internet. If I was living in the US I would call my senator. Since I'm not, this is my voice added to the debate. Keep good music flowing. And DAMN THE MAN! And his greedy corporate ways. The best things in life are free... -- Colby Laughlin (Kamlops, BC, Canada), May 16, at 11:18a
I enjoy internet radio more than any other media. Nothing comes close, nothing. I will not listen to any artist who is a part of this new imposed fee. -- Robert Nye (Zephyr Cove, NV), May 8, at 8:17a
You MUST stay ONLINE, otherwise I cannot work! :) I sincerely hope you will succeed to stop this nonsense of big-ones. -- cstamas (Hungary), May 7, at 9:44a
A shame that greed & money should prevail over common sense and appreciation of what is being done. Internet should be a place where ideas of all kinds should freely be exchanged. Music is my drug of choice, and SomaFM has been running a lot of really good stations for us all. Let's hope SomaFM stays! -- Nx3 (The Neterlands), May 2, at 6:53a
I love to listen to soma fm when I am working or playing. the music is so great and when I am trying to relax it really helps. Its so wrong what the lobbying entertainmkent companies are doing to law in this country. Soon we wont even be able to own anything. -- Michael (Birmingham), May 1, at 9:42p
I agree with your cause. How do I find the full wording of the bill that you are asking me to support? I want to see if I agree with the letter of the proposed law, not just its intent or interpretation. Riders etc. are a worry for me too. I don't want to lend support to a bill that turns out to be different than you or I believed it would be, is all. -- Adam (Florida, USA), April 30, at 2:09p
It´s plain senseless to try to restrict a new distribution channel to the "old rules". The Geological diversity of the locations where the listeners are coming from should indicate the need for a WHOLE new system-- The new royalties system sounds awfully lot about a way to bringing us back to the Corporate Mass Media by killing the intependent distribution channels using the power of money. -- Samppa Tolvanen (Oulu, Finland), April 30, at 1:51p
The continued harassment and senseless fees imposed upon Internet broadcasters must end. I can only hope that, should SomaFM be forced to close it's doors due to this insanity that's overtaken our lawmakers, it will reopen when America fixes it's mistakes and changes the laws again. -- Mark Nelson (Madison, WI), April 30, at 8:28a
if one wants to get "perfect" copies he downloads them, which is way easier and faster than ripping them off a webradio. this law is completely non-sense. -- Jack (Italy), April 27, at 12:02p
This legislation is to protect and make sure artists get paid. Their concern, specifically about internet radio, is that "perfect" copies can be made resulting in fewer record sales. With the push to HD radio doesn't this invalidate their argument and bring internet and OTA radio stations into a level playing field in regards to making "perfect" copies? Will HD radio stations have to pay per user/song?? I doubt it. -- Andrew (Virginia), April 27, at 6:29a
Please don't go, Australia needs you! -- Ben R (Perth, Western Australia), April 26, at 11:37p
This whole situation is absolutely absurd, and I really do hate to see excellent stations like somafm getting battered by abusive legislation. I wish I could be more optimistic about things, but I don't see us winning this particular battle (as much as it pains me to admit it). Maybe though... here's hoping, anyway. Keep fighting the good fight, and know that you are not alone. -- Steven (Athens, GA), April 25, at 4:19p
What good could possibly come from killing internet radio with unsupportable royalty fees? From any other angle than pure greed it just doesn't make any sense. I'm sure that everybody who's reading this knows that internet radio is a fundamentally good thing which adds volumes to the quality of chilling out at the computer. But still, even from a record industry perspective it also makes for a nice tool in carving out new markets for lesser-known artists and perhaps even curbing piracy by giving internet users something right up their alley to listen to when they're online. To me, this just seems like a bunch of irresponsible, misinformed corporate payola driven by the efforts of devious money-grubbing lobbyists, and I'm sick and tired of having to put up with the damage caused by the record industry trying to flummox us music lovers at every turn. -- Jake (California), April 25, at 5:26a
I'm not surprised considering the current conduct of the business/industrialists worldwide, and how they manipulate by re-regulating under a fraudulent guise creating more control and profit for themselves. This current movement by the "old greedy dogs" against the independents who support artists and creatives are repeating what was done in 1996 with the Telecommunications Act and earlier still in the founding of the Publishing Bill of the early 20th century. I'm outraged as I love the arts, especially music, as it has enhanced my life and still does. I've heard music that I would not have ever been blessed to hear if it had not of been for Soma and the like. Please feel free to email any time as I feel strongly about this, I will do my best to support you and make a stand the best I can. DESEAN VIVO LOS CREATIVES!!! James Thomas -- James Thomas (UK (Stourbridge)), April 24, at 3:08p
This new decision is irrational, and it shows how greedy the record industry is. I believe they're getting desperate due to the growing popularity of free music, which is against their business model. I wish there were something I could do. If I can spare $50 anytime soon I'll send it over. You guys should get your story on the news, in entertainment or something. That always gets peoples' attention. Groove Salad is my favorite.... I've been listening to it for years, and have heard some of the coolest stuff on that station. I don't know how you compiled such a great collection of music, but you know what you're doing. Good luck with everything... Kenneth -- Kenneth (Boise ID), April 24, at 2:19a
In my humble opinion, music is a free expression of the art within. Internet is a virtual highway where people walk together and trade thoughts, ideals, love, words and music. If someone haven't got money enough out of net, must get in and enjoy the opportunity. -- T. M. Trindade (Brazil), April 23, at 7:51a
I have only been listening to internet radio for a couple of months, but out of all the radio stations I have listened to, Soma FM is by far one of the best thought out and orchestrated ones out there. Soma FM has introduced me to artists and songs that I wouldn't have heard anywhere else, and I listen to them every day. I am sickened to think that this recently passed legislation may put Soma FM out of business, and I will do my part to keep them up and running. -- E.J. Sexton (Columbus, OH), April 22, at 6:51p
Love Internet radio, especially Soma. I am very distressed about this ruling. in categories, playing music gives artists in a genre a chance to be heard, that are not often played on the radio or any broadcast. I have bought many CDs after hearing them on internet radio. It just does not make sense. I can only think that this is an attempt to censor and commercialize an independant voice -- frank Shifreen (New York), April 21, at 10:02a
I'm sorry to hear about the hassles that soma fm is having with new legislature. I would actually pay $5/mo to hear one station or $20/mo to be able to hear all of them. I'll write my congresswoman, but I don't think that will do anything to keep soma fm broadcasting. Let's face it- the record labels are going to find a way to be in our wallets. Maybe I'm too defeatist, but I think the audience for internet radio is too small to bend the ears of senators/reps. I'd rather cut my losses and pay up, rather than lose what I consider to better radio than anything over the air. Soma FM is awesome and I will continue supporting and listening to them. Word. -- mike (so cal), April 18, at 1:04p
The music industry needs to understand that Internet Radios are enablers for their artists... They grow the pie !!! They need to figure out how much it would cost them to get new customers if those radios did not exist... This is basic marketing !!! -- Jérôme Verstrynge (Amsterdam), April 16, at 10:06a
I was shock to read about the new policy applied on US internet radio. Once again the Majors and affiliated lobbies are going to kill the internet freedom not to mention the cultural aspects. This is a huge Hold-up, a kidnapping... This will not only kill independant internet radio but on the long run will also kill indepedant artists. -- Gaël (Paris, France), April 14, at 5:48a
Huh? This really sucks. It seems to be yet another case of rich people screwing over everyone else to try to line their own and their little rich buddies' pockets. I'm not a US citizen, so I seem to be powerless to do anything to help my favourite radio station... Except that I've just done a $12.99 subscription: something I should have done a long time ago. If we were all to do this would it actually pay the bills? Could I actually live without Tag's Trance Trip? -- Alan (Luton, UK), April 13, at 7:12a
why isn't it possible for us-human beings to accept and understand that by trying/forcing buisness into and out off almost everything one keeps down evolution, kultural process, variety and NOTe to mention flow,workins and joy of life and livin. sending hopes, words and best wishes to you, importance of your artful work and into FUTUre -- steff (ger.mania), April 12, at 6:19p
There is very little I can say on this except that it seems very unfair. How is it possible that broadcast 'over the air radio pays nothing' It is certainly not like that in the UK, they have to pay. It seems that the services which have the least income, promote the less well known artists and 'must be a good thing for the music industry in general', are paying the most, where as large commercial broadcasters who do not promote new music, make huge profits yet pay nothing. How strange. But why should anyone pay? All music stations are promoting the music and without this 'free'exposure, the music industry would have to advertise all of their works. It would cost a fortune. This is a ridiculous proposal most likely promoted by huge corporates in an attempt to stifle true competition. -- Simon (UK), April 11, at 10:56p
Perfect digital copies. Well, there's your solution. I don't know any internet radios that are sending wav streams around, or for that matter any lossless (note: lossless = wav or compressed) format. Since you are not sending perfect copies of the original, you don't have to pay the fees. After all, you don't meet the official outlined standarts. When those big sad people in suits and automatic weapons come knocking, you ask them to show where on your site can one obtain the mentioned perfect copy. If there's one bit of a difference between the source stream you're sending and the decoded output stream the listener gets, well, it's not perfect. Actually it's not even close to perfect. Simply, don't pay and if they force you to, sue them. -- Zygmunt Patyk (Somewhere from eastern Yurup), April 11, at 5:50p
What are the royalties for ? People who love the artists' music will buy their record(s) anyways...and should. Rusty: How can non-americans support you further ? -- Kai (germany), April 11, at 2:35a
I cannot believe Soma is at risk of disappearing. It will truly be a sad day if that happens. To reduce bandwidth costs, has SomaFM considered a peep-2-peer broadcasting system like PeerCast (just an example, there are many other p2p radio clients as well)? -- Sam Donham (Boston, MA), April 10, at 4:51p
I Russell McGovern, Support SomaFm.com. I have listened to somafm.com for over five years. These proposed royalties will cripple a wonderful industry and community. somafm.com constitutes the forefront of a industry that would be decimated by these proposals. as an international citizen, with no direct influence; i implore all those who may have the will and influence to insure that somafm.com. can continue to broadcast without these crippling financial restrictions. thank you for your time. Russell McGovern -- Russell Mcgovern (Scotland (UK)), April 9, at 5:19p
We totally support your call for reduced royalties and fair and equal treatment , One can only imagine they are trying to protect satellite radio which is another thing entirely that is failing miserably to gain an audience we have already mad e one donation but will do a monthly recurring one as well -- Geoffrey Cornish (Laguna Hills California), April 9, at 3:11a
It's about time the music and video industry start realizing they are living in the 21st century. With widespread use of the internet, the world of media changed a lot and it's not going to stop. It will always be possible for them to make money, but then they will have to be creative with the internet and stop fighting against it. Else they will just force people to illegal markets and that's not good for anyone. With unrealistic charges to internet radio they are killing the honest music lovers you guys at SomaFM are and opening the door for uncontrolled chaos. So this is a call to those that pretend to protect intellectual property: cooperate, don't fight the future but embrace it... and everyone will win -- JoPe (Belgium), April 8, at 3:47p
Rusty, I just stumbled across the royalties info link Easter Sunday. I will make an in person visit to my Congressman, as well as letters to my Senators, and will agitate where I can on my sites and where I comment. It may be a losing battle, despite the inevitability of winning the war. It would be a shame to look back once the war has been won and find soma.fm was a casualty. Copyright is changing. Intellectual Property is changing. Fair use will win out. The current schemes of copyright and IP might arguably have served their purpose in the era of Gutenberg-level technology for creation, reproduction and distribution of content, but in today's technological reality the rules fail to meet their clear purpose, explicated in the Constitution itself, to promote the useful arts and sciences. When the Constitution was written there was scarcity of content, difficulty of reproduction and distribution. We thirsted, and clean water was only to be had in a few places, and most of those places charged what the market would bear. But today it is raining buckets, with an ever burgeoning supply of talented content creators using an ever increasing array of content creating technology, and that content can be reproduced nearly effortlessly and without limit, and distribution is equally as infinite. In a free market the law of supply and demand predicts that when supply goes asymptotic price approaches zero. There is no longer any logical nor moral standing for practices such as the proposed royalty stream, there is only the age old power of wealthy people trying to suck a little more cash out of a dying system. You and your crew at soma.fm do what the Constitution calls for, you promote the useful arts and science, turning thousands of listeners on to sounds and grooves we might otherwise never hear. The new royalty scheme is absurd, a product of corporate greed rather than anything approximating justice or a desire to support art and artists. I wish I were more optimistic about the outcome of this particular fight, but I am certain about who is on the side of angels this Easter morn. Keep the faith. -- Robert Link (Monrovia, CA), April 8, at 7:38a
It's an absurd what they're doing with the internet democracy. That just happens because the radio guys don't want to move their asses towards the evolution in communications and in the society. They want to keep the biggest slice of pie for themselves. They're morbidly fat, their profit is so high that it's in fact UN-HUMAN, and yet, they act as if they were losing anything. It's obvious that it will be through the internet that people will be free to watch and to listen to whatever they want, for free, with or without commercials and advertisements. Only special and premium services will cost money, but they will be optional. The user will be no more restricted to what tv channels and radio-stations WANT to offer. We say: no more leashes! The values are inverted. The radios need the musicians so they have audience, and the musicians need the radios to let people know about their work, so, does anyone have to pay anything? I don't think so. The musicians aren't doing any favour for us, they need us, so that's why royalties shouldn't be applied to listeners and radios. What am I saying?? Almost all that money goes to those big music companies. Most musicians out there are victims of them, that is the reality. -- Andre (Europe), April 7, at 3:29p
One interesting aspect of the "perfect digital copy"-argument: The ignorance kind of bites its own tail. It's hardly difficult to prove that 128kbps mp3 is inferior to say .flac. So if Soma streams perfect copies: by the same rationale, so does regular radio. What would happen to regular radio stations if they had those kinds of fines imposed on them? I'm asking because I don't know American FM radio very well, and all I've heard is crammed full of shit. I'm no intellectual, but couldn't Soma just move servers elsewhere to avoid US legislation? Would RIAA and affiliates care if you chose less profiled music? (I.e. "kept it underground") Would you still face the same expenses, not counting the retroactive effect of the law? -- Frustrated Viking (Norway), April 7, at 8:58a
Well, although I really enjoy your radio stations as they are now, I can somehow understand that record companies want to charge some royalty fees. Just keep in mind that it is their business to sell music. On the other hand it absolutely makes mo sense to treat internet radios any different than 'classic' over-the-air broadcasters. I'm not sure, but I think in Germany the 'classic' radio stations have to pay a small amount 'per song'. I think that's reasonable and the same could also apply to internet broadcasters (the amount should depend on popularity of the song, from my point of view). But of course it's absolutely unfair to charge per song and per listener. Don't your legislation understand, that there is still a difference between internet radio and online music stores? -- Michael (Gaermany), April 7, at 7:42a
Oh noe! What will I do without a nicely chilled plate of ambient beats and grooves running in background 24/7? Lets pray :p -- Ambientdude (Lithuania), April 6, at 1:10p
Well its clear, they want you to become some sort of radio365 that interrupts your song and advertises on coca-cola or something; bastard capitalists i bet its bush`s idea. You are a great radio station but be aware of the mafia. they will crush you. -- David (Holland), April 5, at 5:26a
Hello guys, I opened your radio a week ago and was enjoying the music. I thank you for your enthusiasm. You do a great work. But that you are writing about is really sad. I just have an idea. why don't you begin broadcasting from Ukraine or Russia? I really don't want to lose you!!!! Kind regards. Natalie -- Natalie (Ukraine), April 4, at 1:22a
On March 2001, the greek government shut down more than 40 FM radio stations in Athens, using the excuse of air traffic interference. That was when the last resort of quality broadcast music was torn down for me and so many other listeners in Athens (and Greece for that matter) who enjoy electronic sounds. That was until 2003 when high speed internet first appeared as a service in Greece. Internet radio stations are now the main resource for quality music, information and thanks to them many new artists emerged, finding a free mean to pass on their creations. There are no boundaries to net radio, it's like the oasis of the radio listener. It's so sick that a bunch of people with power and control over so much decided the internet radio to be sacrificed on the shrine of money and absolute media control. Soma FM and so many other deserve better than this! I hope something can change on this matter! -- Dio (Athens, Greece), April 3, at 7:55a
It's simple, really. The high-ups at the big radio companies and royalties companies know that they're making tons of money off of the common commercial tripe they schill on the mainstream stations. They also know that internet stations like SomaFM are a thousand times better. Therefore, they're trying to use the govornment to kill off them off before the majority of people wise up to the fact that commercial radio isn't worth listening to. Then who'll pay their advertising dollars? -- Jason (Athens, GA), April 3, at 5:56a
i just can't live/work without you! you've got to stay on air somehow! else i've got to listen to the bad german stations (which cause acute earache)... -- martin (frankfurt, germany), April 2, at 2:22a
This sucks so hard... it would be really tragicial if SomaFM had to be shut down. The politics just suck... step for step they cut every freedom we have left... but you have to know many people (including me) are doing their best to support you and all other free web radio stations. I just registerd on PayPal to support you financial. It's a hard time but I think you/we get over the hill. Sorry for my bad English. Greetings form Germany -- Robin G. (Northern Germany), April 1, at 4:18a
I'm shocked that internet streaming radio might come to an end. I ask myself if this is the world of freedom especially American politicians are talking about. business rules this "free" world. i use soma fm for listening and picking good pieces/artists/albums out to by them on cd. I do not understand why parts of the music industry are taking actions like these royalties, the shoot in their own knee. soam fm has become an important part of my life and rusty, if you all really have to go off air, I strongly hope that there is a way to set up again soma fm on another place on this earth where no royalties have to be paid... I try to support soma fm with 50 dollars twice a year, if I would be able to afford more, I always would give as much as I can because the quality which soma fm gives to my daily life is worth a lot... -- Gerald (Innsbruck, Austria), March 31, at 1:56p
What a bunch of greedy morons. I wonder when RIAA/MPAA will force taxation for having ears and eyes - and therefore "killing" music/movie industry with not paying fees on every step. -- kompan (Poland), March 31, at 12:30p
