http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060810-7472.html
Well, this is interesing in that it will put the brakes on digital radio for
awhile. Personally, I suspect that is exactly what the RIAA is trying to
do...because pervasive digital radio will further degrade sales IMO. The
more high quality broadcast content becomes, and the more readily available
you're choices, the less likely you will want to possess something.
I think they fear the paradigm that people won't bother to own a specific
performance...they will be able to download it on demand from content
providers..and content providers will be using massive buying power reduce
the take available to the labels etc.
The other interesting aspect is that radio has for awhile been partitioning
itself into broadcasters (bandwidth providers) and content
providers/programming.
You read of radio networks leasing whole stations.
Well digital radio technology will allow a single broadcaster to cover
vitually the entire band with allmost unlimited channels of content.
At the start stations will still compete and hang onto licenses...but the
licenses will be gobbled up and the bandwidth partitioned between 3 or 4
bandwidth providers just like the cellular industry.
You want to be a radio station? You won't be a broadcaster, you'll be
leasing channel time from your digital bandwidth provider.
The internet radio station paradigm will be a big part of the digital
broadcast realm.
I'll bet...someday...for the vinyphiles..they'll be some people who are
playing old vinyl selections over digital radio channels, the only thing
that will hold them back will be how much RIAA demands for each play of
those old recordings.
Will these rates hold?
http://www.copyright.gov/carp/webcas...tes_final.html
I guess not...
these rates are much lower
http://www.riaa.com/issues/licensing/webcasting_faq.asp
Anybody find a link that shows current rates or is everything still
up in the air.
Maybe I'll start recording some of my old records and getting
ready to be a digital broadcaster.
Jenn, you can offer up the classical music show
.
ScottW