Internet radio stations pledge May Day silence

Internet radio stations across the US will tomorrow broadcast nothing but silence in protest at the royalty rates they may soon have to pay copyright holders.

The webcasters fear the levies proposed by the Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel (Carp) will force them out of business.

The panel has been put together by the US Copyright Office but the suggested rates of payment have been criticised by the internet radio stations. It has proposed the stations pay 0.14 cents for every song an audience member listens to and 0.07 for songs broadcast over-the-air and streamed online.

The stations have chosen May Day to highlight their concerns. US reports suggest that hundreds of stations will be joining the protest.

The Copyright Office will make a final decision on these charges by 21 May.