Petteri Pyyny
18 Oct 2004 16:23
American traditional radio stations, through their lobby organization Radio Music License Committee, have reached a deal with American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers that would give radio stations rights to broadcast their radio shows over the Internet as well as over the traditional airwaves.
Deal was made to take effect retroactively from year 2001 and lasts until 2009 and is worth of $1.7 billion in total fees to ASCAP. The deal was made to separate radio broadcasters' online fees from the traditional broadasting fees they pay for ASCAP.
RMLC represents 12,000 radio stations across the United States and the deal is limited strictly to radio stations and their online simulcasts, so it doesn't make difference for Net-only broadcasters who have made a separate deal with the RIAA in previous years. The Net broadcasters' deal with RIAA is set to expire by end of this year.
Source: BusinessWire (press release)