Philadelphia, PA — June 22, 2007 — WXPN, the nationally-recognized leader in Triple A music and a noncommercial radio service of the University of Pennsylvania, today announced that it wlll join other Internet radio providers in a “Day of Silence” to protest higher royalty rates expected to go into effect on or after July 15th.
Silence is what Internet radio may sound like after that date because of a royalty rate hike scheduled to go into effect. The new rates will also be retroactive for 17 months and payment will become due to the SoundExchange collection organization under the terms of a recent Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) decision. The new rates could cost WXPN more than $100,000 annually; several times the annual funds raised by business support on the Internet streams.
For its part, WXPN will silence the station’s four streams — XPN, Y Rock On XPN, XPoNential Radio and Folk Alley. No music will be heard but a message will be played directing listeners to sign an online petition to protest this increase. The station is seeking a minimum of 5,000 signatures. An on-air message will direct listeners as well. The station is also planning two minutes of silence on-air at 4pm.
WPXN: You Can Sign The Petition Here, We Think It’s The Right Thing To Do
UPDATE: 8,415 Have Signed The Petition So Far