Internet Radio Day of Silence is Time to Make Noise
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What will tens of thousands of people do today when they find their online radio station silent? If SaveNetRadio organizers' predictions are correct, it will be to pick up the phone and call Washington DC.
It's back.
The Day of Silence was used effectively in 2002 to squash a royalty rate threatening internet radio; it garnered enough response to see the rate returned to a reasonable level.
This time, the Day of Silence will work only if you and those other tens of thousands of folks respond by calling Representatives and Senators - to shake up Congress. There's little time for anything but mass protest on the phone, from the audience, not webcasters. On July 15, independent internet radio stations have to start paying new, very high, back royalties through Jan 2006, and then face royalty rates that nearly quadruple through 2010.
"The Day the Music Died" has been used as a metaphor for July 15. But maybe that's premature. Maybe, we need recognition that a listener's favorite online station is enought to motivate response. Maybe.
Today is like an election day. We'll soon know if those in the audience care enough to become activists, and if those in Washington think there's enough of them to matter.
You can never underestimate the power of the masses, though, so I'd rather try and guess the outcome of 2008's Presidental election than predict what today's movement will bring.
This I do know: Without your, my, and the next person's voice being heard on that phone in Washington DC today, internet radio will change dramatically for the worse come July 15.
I urge you to find your Representative's and Senators' phone numbers at SaveNetRadio, right now. Then, make the call. These are serious times.
And, please, if you find it difficult to get through because of the high volume of calls, try again later today or tomorrow.
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