As many of you already know the fate of Internet Radio was dealt a serious blow on March 2.  A group called the Copyright Royalty Board announced a new royalty structure that would take the vast majority of webcasters off the air and force the largest stations to owe billions of dollars in fees. 

The rates, retro-active to 2006, add up to over 100% of many internet radio stations entire revenue.  The rates are supposed to go to the performers of the material and is handled by the group SoundExchange, a spinoff of the RIAA (the recording industry's lobbying group).  Both of these organizations have often worked against consumers and music lovers, not to mention the artists, to line their own pockets at the expense of future earnings.  This particular ruling weighs heavily in their favor.  At the very least they have substantial leveraging power in negotiating a 'better' rate with webcasters.  The involvement of lawmakers and the general public is crucial to letting the CRB and the RIAA know this proposed rate schedule is unacceptable and must be re-negotiated in good faith.

You can get involved by clicking on the link at the top of the home page, signing the petition and learning more about this story.  The site is SaveTheStreams.org.  For thorough coverage of this story we encourage you to visit the Radio and Internet Newsletter (RAIN) by Kurt Hanson.  This site has been a champion of Internet Radio from the beginning and an important gathering place for news on this revolutionary new media format.  If you have ever listened to Internet Radio and valued what you heard as something unique and important you owe it to yourself to lend your voice to this cause.

(Stop Big Media - February 13, 2007)
The FCC will hold an official public hearing on media ownership rules in Harrisburg, PA on Friday, February 23, 2007.  A public comment session will be held after a panel presentation.  Anyone in attendance can submit comments.  The FCC Chariman, Kevn Martin, has expressed a desire to further relax limits on local media ownership.  These public hearings (Harrisburg is third of six) may be the only opportunity for concerned citizens to voice concerns on this matter.  Visit www.stopbigmedia.com to learn more.  If you live in Philadelphia and would like to attend visit the Media Tank or Prometheus websites for news on carpooling and bus service.

G-town Radio encourages you to make your voice heard during these critical presentations.  Consolidation of media ownership hurts everyone by ignoring points of view contrary to the owner's best interests.  Learn more today about making your voice heard.
(StopBigMedia.org)
(MediaTank.org)
(PrometheusRadio.org)

Cutting the Cord is a series of posts you will see over the next few weeks that explore the different ways you can listen to Internet Radio besides sitting in front of your computer.

Cutting the Cord, Pt 4: G-town Radio on Your Walkman or Boombox

The 2007 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas introduced two new products that could greatly improve the mobility and access to Internet Radio.  Both devices use WiFi signals to connect to websites with audio streams.  This post takes a closer look at both.

Sandisk Introduces Sansa Connect

Flash memory company SanDisk unveiled its Sansa Connect MP3 player with 4GB of built in memory along with a slot for a memory card.  Compared to hard disk players or even other flash based MP3 players the Sansa Connect is light on storage space.  What diminishes the significance of low storage is the Sansa's WiFi capability.  Using the 802.11g WiFi standard the Sansa Connect can use any open WiFi access point to listen to Internet Radio or subscription music services.  It can also play music or display picture files stored on a local computer.  The Sansa Connect is expected to arrive in retail markets in March 2007 at a price of $249.99.  While the price pushes it out of reach for many people SanDisk has raised the bar for what portable music players should do.  Expect competitors to follow suit with cheaper, better products in the months to come.

Component Makers Bring the Future of Internet Radio

Frontier Silicon introduced the Chorus 2i chip set at this year's CES.  The chips enable devices to receive analog and digital radio in addition to Internet Radio via WiFi.  Devices ranging from alarm clock radios to boomboxes and stereo tuners could carry the chip set.  The company expects devices carrying the Chorus 2i to start appearing this summer for prices below $100.

Meanwhile, Cambridge Consultants, Ltd. has created the Iona chip set.  The Iona only has WiFi capability (no analog or digital radio) but was engineered to have a $15 bill of materials as well as low power usage.  Cambridge is positioning the product as an add-on for existing music players that don't have WiFi capability.  The company expects products with the Iona to start appearing in time for the 2007 holiday season.

By creating components that could be used by any equipment manufacturer the future for Internet-enabled Radios is wide open.  Expect to see a wide array of products at multiple price points in the coming year.  Some may be incredibly creative solutions while others are awkward and ineffective.  One product could dwarf all others (like the iPod did) or the technology could seep into our lives in multiple products that creates a new standard for audio delivery.  Either way, the push to deliver information and entertainment over wireless networks will further the reach and importance of mediums like Internet Radio.

See also:
The Revolution Will Now Be Mobile
Cutting the Cord homepage

Cutting the Cord is a new series of posts you will see over the next few weeks that explore the different ways you can listen to Internet Radio besides sitting in front of your computer.

Cutting the Cord, Pt 3: G-town Radio on Your Stereo

Your computer allows you to listen to radio stations from anywhere in the world.  It also stores your mammoth mp3 library you have lovingly compiled over the years.  Ironically, what most computers don't do so well is play music.  Most pc speakers are tiny, tinny pieces of crap.  Sound cards are getting better all the time but do they sound nearly as good as your home stereo, or even your car stereo?

As WiFi networks in the home and in public places continue to grow products that leverage this access are slowly starting to appear in the market.  The goal of many of these products is to bypass your computer when listening to music, looking at pictures or watching movies.  The biggest limitation of internet radio has been you could only listen while sitting at your computer.  Socializing around the cluttered area you shoved your computer just so you could listen to the new songs you downloaded was never appealing and may never have to happen again.

One company is already delivering products that bring internet radio as well as your music library directly to your stereo system or anywhere in your house you would have a portable radio.  Roku has created the Soundbridge line of stereo components (pictured above).  Soundbridge players are stereo components you connect to a receiver or powered speakers.  They use WiFi to retrieve music files directly from your PC.  Turn off your PC and they can still connect to the internet to play internet radio stations from anywhere in the world (using your WiFi router).  The newest Roku addition is the Soundbridge Radio (pictured below).  This tabletop device is a self-contained radio with speakers and sub-woofers that can play internet radio anywhere in the house.  It also has an AM/FM receiver, alarm clock and station presets (for broadcast & internet radio).  The Roku products range in price from $129.99 for the low-end Soundbridge component to the $399.99 Soundbridge Radio.

The capabilities of these products is an exciting breakthrough in increasing the reach of internet radio.  While the price may be prohibitive for many the promise of newer, better, and cheaper products looms on the horizon.  New products were unveiled at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas that indicate this is true.  We’ll take a closer look at two of these in the next installment of Cutting the Cord.

See also:
The Revolution Will Now Be Mobile
Cutting the Cord homepage

Alice Coltrane, 69, died Friday in Los Angeles.  John Coltrane's wife and member of his band (replacing McCoy Tyner on piano), Coltrane went on to release her own records after John's death.  She collaborated on several compositions with Pharoah Sanders and Joe Henderson.  Her deep faith in Hinduism took center stage on her solo work as she created spiritual, hypnotic music featuring harp and piano along with sax, drums and bass.  Two excellent albums to experience her unique sound are Journey in Satchidananda and Transcendence.

(L.A. Times Obituary)
(Pitchfork Listening Guide)

Turn G-town Radio on each Sunday and leave it on all day.  Sunday programming digs a little deeper into the G-town libraries as you hear sounds you won't find on the radio.

Every Sunday at 7 PM Selecta Sensistar of the Royal Majestic Sound brings you a new edition of On The Frontlines featuring conscious roots and culture reggae / dancehall / and hip-hop from the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, Europe, U.S, Africa and beyond.  For more info and playlist for the show check www.myspace.com/rrroyalmajesticsound.

Every 2nd Sunday Dev79 & Starkey are back with Seclusiasis Radio.  The first show of 2007 is going to be a sick one. They've got one of dubstep's hot rising talents, DJ Distance, with an exclusive DJ mix and interview and also an interview with the one, and only, krak-tastic CX Kidtronik. And of course your hosts Starkey and Dev79 will be dropping that deep urban underground flavor throughout.