[FA Worldmusic] internet radio fee exception for noncommercial broadcasters

[Robert Weisberg]

Quoting from Ken Freedman, WFMU Station Manager:

Non-commercial radio stations are in a slightly different situation than 
most webcasters because:

Non-commercial stations are allowed to have 159,000 "aggregate tuning 
hours" for $500 a year. Commercial webcasters don't get this "free $500 
ride" which has a real value of $15,000 per year. (Commercial webcasters 
have to pay $15,000 a year for the first 159,000 hours.)

Also, my station, WFMU, has collected hundreds of waivers from artists and 
labels releasing us not only from the fees in question but also from the 
other restrictions which would apply to webcasters - something webcasters 
could try I suppose...


Rob W / WFMU / http://www.wfmu.org/tsp