“Bad Romance,” by Lady Gaga, would bring in over $446,000 a year if the Performance Rights Act was enacted by Congress, according to a new assessment by the Government Accountability Office. The proposed legislation would require broadcast radio stations to pay a royalties to performers as well as copyright holders. “As the primary musician on […]
Author Archive | Matthew Lasar
WFMU on the “catch 22” of Internet streaming
John Bergmayer of Public Knowledge has a great interview with Ken Freedman, station manager of WFMU-FM in Jersey City, New Jersey. WFMU is a trailblazing radio station which was in the forefront of both the free form and dot.com eras. The dialogue is a terrific read, because it encapsulates all the dilemmas facing Internet radio […]
Could smartphone data cap plans hurt Internet radio?
The National Association of Broadcasters is sending around an interesting think piece about Internet/mobile radio. The report was published by the Station Resource Group, a consortium of public media services. It’s titled “The Mobile Internet: A Replacement for Radio?” and is pretty circumspect about the question—pondering the various differences between broadcast and Internet audio streams. This paragraph […]
Hitler outraged by possible KTRU sale (parody alert)
We’ve been reporting for a week or so about the controversy over Rice University’s plan to sell their FM signal, KTRU. Well, looks like even Die Fuhrer is opposed to this deal. We expect the situation to change fast now that old Schicklgruber is on the case. Great that he’s taking time for this issue, […]
KPFA, the case against an all-volunteer station
Pacifica radio is running its semi-regular Local Station Board elections. If you subscribe to a Pacifica station, you should be getting a ballot soon for listener or staff candidates for your signal’s respective board. Here at Pacifica outlet KPFA-FM in Berkeley, to which I donate money, there are two big slates running: SaveKPFA and Independents […]
Live365, now with prizes
Live365 radio is celebrating its 11th year of operation by offering a “prize-a-day” sweepstakes to listeners through September. The top prizes will include an iPad, Canon PowerShot digital camera, Flip Camcorder, C. Crane WiFi Internet Radio, Michael Jackson’s CD Box Set, Apple/iTunes/Amazon gift cards, and other stuff. I’m trying to decide whether this prize business […]
Wireless industry blasts FM receiver mandate for mobiles
Six wireless industry related trade associations sent Congress a letter on Monday that goes ballistic on the idea of mandating FM receivers in mobile handsets. The groups wrote in opposition to a reported deal between the National Association of Broadcasters and the Recording Industry Association of America in which the former would agree to the […]
Inside the Droid X FM radio
Everybody is in a dither over whether the National Association of Broadcasters and the Recording Industry Association of America are going to cut a deal in which they both agree to the Performance Rights Act, if Congress mandates that all mobiles have to include FM radios. I can’t see why lawmakers would want to do […]
Radio One endorses Comcast/NBCU merger
Radio One, the nation’s biggest African American oriented radio network, has endorsed the proposed Comcast/NBC Universal merger, now being evaluated by the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice. Its CEO Alfred Liggins III praised Comcast for helping Radio One develop its TV One cable channel. “The result is that today, as one of […]
Bonnie Simmons inducted into Bay Area Radio Hall of fame
Truly great news for community radio music lovers, long time music deejay legend and totally awesome human being Bonnie Simmons has been inducted into the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame! Here is her Hall of Fame entry: Bonnie Simmons – A pioneer in free-form radio, Simmons was instrumental to the success of KSAN during […]