Radio Orenovscotia Petitions Congressman Conyers To Amend Performance Rights Act

Austin, TX (PRWEB) May 27, 2009

Radio Orenovscotia (http://www.radioorenovscotia.com) has Petitioned Congressman John Conyers, Chairperson of the Judiciary Committee, to amend the Performance Rights Act, which is being considered by his Committee, in order to allow Internet radio to enjoy the same standard the CRB uses when setting royalty rates for satellite radio.

The Performance Rights Act is being considered by Congress, and, if enacted, would apply performance royalties to terrestrial stations. Currently, only satellite radio, cable radio and internet radio stations pay royalties to SoundExchange, which collects and administers these royalties, for the broadcasting of recorded music and the like. Over-the-air stations have been, and at present are, exempt from paying performance royalties, although they pay royalties to organizations like BMI, ASCAP and SESAC for the use of published lyrics.

According to the terms of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, while satellite radio is accorded the more liberal 801(b)1 standard, which allows the CRB to consider the possible disruption royalty rate increases can have on existing businesses and to consider the interests not only of the copyright holder but the interests of the copyright user and of the general public as well, the DMCA imposes on internet radio the more restrictive "willing seller, willing buyer" criterion, which allows the CRB to impose royalties on what the market might theoretically charge stations for the broadcasting of recorded material.

Also, Radio Orenovscotia has been involved in challenging the CRB's (the Copyright Royalty Board) decision of March 2007. That decision substantially increased royalty rates for internet-only radio stations and has threatened to close many small stations. Toward that end Radio Orenovscotia has written and called Congress on a number of occasions asking members to support the Internet Radio Equality Act, H.R. 2060, which was co-sponsored by Congressman Jay Inslee of Washington, and to support the Webcaster's Settlement Act of 2008 and the Webcaster's Settlement Act of 2009, which extends the deadline by which time SoundExchange and Internet radio must reach a settlement. Until that settlement is reached, Congress has prevailed on SoundExchange to hold in abeyance the enforcement of the controversial CRB decision.

Radio Orenovscotia supports the need to amend the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in order to secure fair treatment for small internet radio stations. Short of getting passed into law the Internet Radio Equality Act, which would set for Internet radio the rate paid by satellite radio, and whose bill has 152 Co-sponsors in Congress, Radio Orenovscotia supports amending the DMCA to repeal the "willing seller, willing buyer" provision and to apply equally to all broadcast media the fairer and less restrictive 801(b)1 standard, allowing the CRB to take into consideration other factors when setting royalties for Internet radio.

In addition, Radio Orenovscotia has participated in blogs and editorials pertaining to the CRB's decision, as well as at SaveNetRadio.org, which is concerned with issues relating to internet radio and the deleterious effect of the CRB's decision with respect to that broadcast medium.

Radio Orenovscotia, which has operated continuously since 2005, is an independent internet-only radio station that features 60s pop internet radio, 70s pop internet radio and Classic & Contemporary rock, operates everyday, without commercial interruption.

Listeners can hear well-known artists and groups like Bob Dylan, The Beach Boys, The Supremes, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Creedence Clearwater Revival, as well as psychedelic groups, like the Strawberry Alarm Clock, Andromeda, Vanilla Fudge and many more. Still, Radio Orenovscotia doesn't limit itself to classic oldies music. More recent music from groups like Nirvana, REM or the Psychedelic Cowboys can be heard as well.

Radio Orenovscotia broadcasts in stereo at 128 kbps, which means audio quality is excellent for the listener. Radio Orenovscotia's broadcasts can be heard simply by visiting http://www.radioorenovscotia.com where visitors can select between Real Player, Windows Media Player, Winamp or iTunes audio options, which are located a bit down the first page.

In addition to being found at its own website, Radio Orenovscotia can be found at the Golden Oldies genre at iTunes, at the Adult Hits genre of WindowsMedia.com Radio Tuner, at the 60s genre at Loudcity and on the first page of the directory of stations at SWCast. Loudcity and SWCast are aggregators of small, independent internet radio stations and have been actively involved in keeping internet radio alive for the small webcaster. The head of SWCast, Randall Krause, initiated and heads the SWCI, the Small Webcaster Community Initiative, which promotes the interests of the small webcaster.

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