x RAIN has produced a "Day of Silence" press release that we hope Webcasters use to spread the word of the event to as many people as possible. Webcasters can download the release here (.pdf) and here (.doc) and customize it how they see fit (e.g. inserting the name of your service, etc.) The press release can also be helpful to use in webcasters' local media markets (local papers, TV stations). -- DM x

RAIN has learned webcaster/music recommendation service Pandora.com will participate in Tuesday's Day of Silence event to draw attention to the plight of the webcasting industry under new royalty rates.

A representative for the wildly popular service has informed RAIN that the company will silence its music programming in solidarity with an Internet radio industry facing a very uncertain future.

Other widely-listened to webcasters like Yahoo Music's Launchcast, Real Networks' Rhapsody, and MTV Online have also announced their plan to participate in the event. These outlets join a growing list of webcasters that include other popular outlets like Radioio, RadioParadise, 3WK, myMVY, Digitally Imported, and AccuRadio.

More on the Day of Silence is in RAIN here and here.

From the Chicago Tribune: " When The New Pornographers' fourth album goes on sale in August, ardent fans will have already streamed the songs on their computers and received extra tracks that won't be on the album. And some time in the fall, they will own a live recording from the band's coming tour.

"The band's label, New York's Matador Records, hopes that an extra dose of songs... will help stem the flow of illegal copies of the new album and drum up a bit of extra revenue.

"Call it the summer of promotional love for music fans, as record labels step up already aggressive campaigns to lure consumers with unique downloads, bonus videos, special vinyl versions and music that hasn't been recorded yet.

"'The people who go out to the record stores on the first day of a release deserve something extra,' said Paul Cardillo, who handles sales for North Carolina-based Merge Records, whose top-selling artists include Arcade Fire and Spoon. 'And for those people who may be interested in a record, you want to give them a reason not to download it illegally,'...

"On Tuesday, Warner released multiple formats of the White Stripes' latest album, 'Icky Thump.' The CD is priced at $15, vinyl is $30 and two special-edition USB thumb drives (pictured above) are offered for $57.50 each. One thumb drive looks like Jack White, the other Meg White.

"Earlier, before the release, the label used an application on social networking Web site Facebook.com that allowed people to stream singles.

"You could hear their new song, then when the video was available, we streamed that,' said Robin Bechtel, head of new media at Warner Bros. On Tuesday, the 'entire album was available through the app.'

Read the entire article at the Chicago Tribune.

From RadioInk: "TargetSpot, Inc. has entered into a partnership with Entercom Communications Corp. allowing advertisers to utilize TargetSpot’s ad serving technology on Entercom’s over 90 radio stations that stream online.

"Entercom is the second major radio broadcasting company to partner with TargetSpot. In April, CBS Radio announced that it would use TargetSpot’s technology and marketplace on its 140+ online radio station network [previous RAIN coverage here]....

“'Entercom is committed to providing advertisers direct access to our passionate audience of online listeners, who spend hours a day with our brands,' said Sandy Smallens, Entercom’s senior vice president, Digital."

Read the entire article at Radio Ink.