Hundreds of Internet radio stations and channels across the country are set to shut off their music streams this Wednesday to highlight their concerns over the U.S. Copyright Office ruling on royalty rates.
Opponents of the measure say the rates may shut down or bankrupt the vast majority of the Internet radio industry. Under the terms of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the Librarian of Congress is required to set "sound recording performance royalty" rates for Internet radio stations by May 21, and a Copyright Royalty Arbitration Panel has recommended that Internet radio stations pay copyright holders 0.07 cents per song, per listener.
Webcasters are hoping their "Day of Silence" will prompt listeners to contact their congressional representatives to express concern.