musicians

pass the mic

The coalition has collected stories and quotes from other musicians telling how internet radio has impacted their lives. We're passing the mic to you -- feel free to share your voice so you can be heard.

pass the mic

Testimonial Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21

 

To send your experience, email us.

Eclectic Hiatus

I would like to inform those concerned that am in a local band called Eclectic Hiatus. As a "musician," I believe that it is unfair online radio stations should pay a higher amount in fees than other forms of media. The majority of CDs I own I would not have even learned about if not for internet radio. I listen to net radio  in order to enjoy music and learn about new bands whose CDs I can purchase. I do believe that the new fees on radio sites will cause most to cease to exist, therefore eliminating an excellent source of advertisement for many musicians, and also limiting the population of potential fans.

Meantone

I'm an independent musician who needs the resources of independent magazines, radio and internet without the corporations controlling everything. It's the same power hungry story that is always the problem. The corporations want complete control so they can dictate what people see, hear, eat etc. For internet radio to be impossiblity to afford is an injustice. If it turns into FM I'll throw up. Don't make people think. Keep them dumb and stupid. They want comlete control of everything from CD sales, to concert venues, to mp3 sales and now they want to get rid of the competition. Since they can't buy them out, they just make it impossible for them to afford to exist. It's been done before. Internet is out greatest resource of free speech. We can't let them own it and do what the corporations did to radio when that was first invented. It's the same story. Read your history. They made it impossible for anyone to afford to be on the air and be a radio station. Big money=Big problems.

Thank you.

Meantone

Living Praise Choir

Nothing special here; I'm just one of thousands of musicians who've utilized the internet to attempt to have my work heard outside of the corporate music monopoly. The CRB'c decision to raise the copyright royalty rate to sky-high levels and kill internet radio smacks of the by now usual Bush-Rovian agenda. The CRB's decision coupled with the recent AOL-inspired attempt to raise the postage rate for small circulation magazines to 30% above the current rate shows the true agenda of big media in this country; if they can't abolish net neutrality, then simply have their regulatory commissars wipe out independent musicians and magazines by making it too expensive to exist. THIS IS FASCISM NOT DEMOCRACY!!!

Esther Golton

Being a working independent musician in Alaska, it's even more important to have internet radio as a way to get our music heard. We are far away from the activity of the music business down in the lower 48. I can't tell you how many Alaskan artists have ONLY had their music receive airplay via internet radio, and have been able to market their CDs outside of our state to happy ears. PLEASE do not allow this "voice of the people" to be smashed.

Dying to Bleed

Awesomeradio.net and DJ VYpuRR have given us our first exposure to more people than we could have ever hoped to do on our own. We are indebted to internet radio for this exposure.

Divine Trinity

I listen to internet radio a lot and they have been very helpful by playing our music.  This is the only option some people have to listen to good gospel music.  Give them a break and allow them to continue in this endeavor to get the word out.

silent seraph

The ony way for people to hear my music is on the internet, considering I don't have a comlete CD out yet.

Folk Telemetry

I have been on the internet since before the World Wide Web.  Music has always existed on the internet.  By its nature, this simply will not end.

My music has had so much exposure due to the internet and internet radio stations.  I even operate an internet radio station out of my home, which plays my own music,  as well as some of the bands I produce. 

Not only does internet radio present my music, but also the other fields I work in.  I am the director of an artistic "commune" of sorts, that extends into the areas of visual media, i.e. painting, film; writers are also supported in their poetry, short stories, and magazines, both hard copy and virtual [net 'zine]

I've been making music since 1988, had my own music on the internet in '94, and it has only helped and progress and inspire.

Please do all You can to preserve internet radio as it is.

Thank You.

Robert Graves

Tone Scientist

Internet radio is one of the only ways for underground artists to get heard. The music pushed by the companies supported by the RIAA is for the most part bland and boring. Let the people decide what they want to listen to.

Fly Away Tigers

The increase of fees seems to destroy any hopes of a successful business model in internet radio by SMALL companies.

West by Swan

We are an independent band on a small label that depends on internet radio to introduce us to like minded listeners and those who are looking for music that has been shut out of commercial radio.

Through November

Our band feels that internet radio is one of the best ways to get our band name out there for people to hear. If this raise in royalties goes through then it will severely hurt internet radio. Also  internet radio shouldn't have royalties on it because artists make money from concerts and not CD sales.  Radio is the best way to get a person to come to your concert (also get them to buy a CD) because it gets the song stuck in the persons head. These reasons are why internet radio should be saved

Onaje Allan Gumbs

I am a jazz musician who has been in the business for over 35 years. internet radio has become a source for my music that has for the most part gone ignored on regular FM broadcast radio. Being an independent artist, the jazz internet world has embraced my and my music like no other. Folks are able to really know about my music through internet sites and internet radio. The raised fees to the internet stations are unfair and border on fascism. We the independent artist need this outlet to get our music to the public.

Onaje Allan Gumbs
pianis, composer, arranger, producer

Infinite Number of Sounds

As not only a small band member, but also as the co-owner/operator of a small regional record label, I feel that easing, not raising the royalties for web-based radio is imperative to the leveling of the playing field within the musical arena.  Why is all of government seemingly trying to constantly defend the big record companies who have repeatedly practiced anti-competitive measures and furthermore, have already been convicted of price fixing.  Please support small business, both the website/radiostations, as well as the small and medium sized record labels, and overturn these ridiculous royalty increases which will never get to the artists that you are trying to protect.
thank you for your time.

Smokin Joe and the Wild Horse Band

When you take us as artists ( independent) you kill our ability to compete in todays music maket. The big artist and companys can spend millions to make someone a star but we as independent are not that fortunate

DJ Dane

I am actually a Listener and an Artist/Producer.  I have been listening with Digitally Imported Radio ever since they started.  This is an outrage that there is going to be a law to shut down internet radio.  DI has been my #1 source to previewing music as well as just plain listening to it and deciding if I want to buy the track.

Rising From Ashes

Music is important to any soul on this planet. Ever since the earliest of time, if I may say, it has been known that tribes and races play drums or some sort of music. Music has been used in the engagement of war, the expression of voice, fun and entertainment, and for peace living. It would stop the growth of music, but to have to pay for music limits music too much especially for those who deserve to be heard like the music artists from the 70s, or even further back or foward. There will always be a record of music influencing the public. Music makes America great, because it shows that we support religion and the freedom of listening or making music.

Shades of Winter & Protean Mean

Clear Vision

Mike Hardin Media

Please don't kill internet radio.

Victoria

Nu World Symphony

won't pay to be heard on radio!!

 

To send your experience, email us.