Internet Radio, RIP

The abysmally bad decision by the Librarian of Congress in the Internet radio royalties case is, quite simply, the end of almost all Net radio. It's another victory for the greed-mongers who control popular music in America, and the hell with the rest of us.

To claim this is anything but a disaster for a medium that had promised to provide an alternative to the absolute garbage on today's commercial radio is to deny reality. Cutting in half a royalty rate that would put Internet radio stations out of business immediately only means they'll go out of business slightly less quickly.

So, another charade in Washington has turned in favor of entrenched interests. Sad times, folks. Sad times.

More:
Doc Searls: Stay lifted on execution of Internet radio.
Mercury News: Cut in Webcast royalty angers both sides.
Washington Post: Curtain Call for Webcasts?
The Register: Net Radio Going off the Air.

This is of interest to me since I do Internet radio with a little show called TestingTesting. It's all live music and we are running under the RIAA's radar but I have wonder when are they going to go after even the smaller then small fry like me?

Listen to whatever Internet radio there is while you can. It will be your last chance to hear non-corporate music. Fuck there black hearts.