As of today, Internet radio stations are required to pay high royalty fees (2 cents for every 100 Internet listeners per song, with a minimum of $500 annually), retroactive to 1998, which may put many of them out of business, or at least off the web.

The Small Webcaster Amendments Act of 2002 would have offered other options for all parties involved, but it was stalled in the Senate this past Friday -- *just* in time to forestall benefit to the small webcasters (or buy more time for campaign contributions to come through? hrm...).

Already, several college stations have been forced off the web, with others surely to follow. Not only does this restrict an independent and unsigned band's ability to be heard, for those of us not lucky enough to live near diverse broadcasters like KALX or WFMU, the Internet may be the only place to hear new music other than Britney, Blink-182, Kid Rock, or whatever else the majors want to push on us.

For more info, check out the Save Internet Radio and Save Our Streams campaigns. And support your local music scene!