Results from the annual Arbitron/Edison Media Research radio and digital music study will be published in an afternoon edition of RAIN.x

BY KURT HANSON
Numerous disparate parties have come together to help design the messaging for the SaveNetRadio.org website, including DiMA members, the Small Commercial Webcasters group, many NPR stations, musicians, and many independent labels.

The messaging is very intentionally something that all affected groups should be able to support — including broadcasters!

To be clear, this is not an isolated group of of DiMA-member companies or smaller Internet-only webcasters saying, "Broadcast radio bad, Internet radio good."

We're also not using the "level playing field" argument — i.e., that broadcasters should pay a sound recordings royalty for their AM, FM, and HD streams.

Rather, we're saying that Internet radio is a vast treasure trove of options, including Internet-delivered streams of terrestrial radio stations, Internet-only "B" channels from terrestrial radio stations, big portal sites, small hobbyists, and everything in-between — and that all of those options are at risk due to these excessively high royalty rates.

Broadcasters' stake in the fight
Some broadcasters may believe that a shutdown of Internet radio is good for them. That's not true for two reasons:

• If U.S.-based Internet radio goes away, listeners will simply find other alternatives — i.e., webcasters based in Canada or Europe or Australia. (If Pandora dies, its listeners won't go back to Mix 107.9 FM; they'll simply go to UK-based Last.fm.)

• From a stock price (and value) point of view, note what analysts are saying: Radio revenues are flat. Radio's best opportunity for growth is to get a piece of the large and growing interactive ad segment — and the only way for that to happen is for radio to actively compete in the Internet radio space, which they won't be able to do effectively under these rates!

Broadcasters may be concerned that supporting Internet radio may open up the question of sound recordings performance royalties for over-the-air radio. But that issue is already open! SoundExchange has made it clear for years they're going after terrestrial radio next. Standing on the sidelines in this fight isn't going to stop that development from happening.

Here at RAIN, we urge broadcasters — and, ideally, the NAB! — to step up and support this effort actively. Both PR-wise and long-term business strategy-wise, it's the right thing to do.

What do YOU think? Send me a note via the feedback form below

While we prepare our coverage of panels at Monday's RAIN Summit in Las Vegas, we're providing some photos from the star-studded event.

Look for in-depth reports of several of the panels in the coming days. In the meantime, enjoy the pictures!

SaveNetRadio.org representative Jake Ward unveiled the new website to the audience at the RAIN Summit.

RAIN Publisher Kurt Hanson presides over the day's events.

RAIN Editor Paul Maloney, DiMA Executive Director Jon Potter, and webcast legal expert David Oxenford sit on the panel "CRB Decision: What should we do next? (Appeals, negotiation, legislation)".

Muzak Licensing Director Chuck Walker and Yahoo! LAUNCHcast co-founder Dave Goldberg discuss "New frontiers, new ideas".

Walker and Goldberg

Paul Maloney works the crowd from the podium.

Pandora CEO Joe Kennedy gives the keynote address of the RAIN Summit.

Dave Rahn moderates a panel of (from L to R) Michael King of Abacast, AOL Radio chief Lisa Namerow, Gary Krantz of Westwood One, Ari Shohat of DI.fm, Johnie Floater of Live365, and Jeff Bachmeier of Club977.

SomaFM founder Rusty Hodge, radioio's Russ Gilbert, and SelectRadio's Jim Kearns discuss the mobile future of webcasting on the panel "Goin' Mobile".

Air Support founder Brian Cullinan, CorStarr co-founder Val Starr and WOXY GM Bryan Jay Miller discuss the promotional value of Internet radio to artists on the panel "CRB decision: How can Internet radio better support musicians and labels?".

Cullinan, Starr and Miller talk promotions.

A view of the crowded Summit room.

An artful shot of the band and cocktail party, courtesy of Kurt's Treo. Entertainment was provided by the Reno-based indie band Sol'Jibe (pictured, bottom left).

The annual Cocktail Party closes out a successful 2007 RAIN Las Vegas Summit.

From a press release: "Small Webcaster Community Initiative (SWCI), a coalition of streaming-media companies,... announced their intent to form a U.S. trade association.

"The new organization aims to promote and protect independent online music radio through grassroots civic campaigns, including political action and educational outreach...

'Unfortunately, our segment of the streaming media industry still lacks adequate political representation,' [says Executive Director Randall Krause ]. 'A coherent constituency that caters to the unique needs and concerns of small Webcasters will not only be better equipped to respond to rapidly changing market conditions, but could also play a more direct role in shaping public policy,'...

"A variety of digital music services have already teamed with Small Webcaster Community Initiative including Barnabas Road Media, Live365, MusiK1.net, Surround Mobile, and SWCast Network...

"Associate membership will be open to all small commercial and non-commercial Webcasters whose principal offices are located in the United States and whom subscribe to an established code of conduct."

Read the entire press release here.