BRS Media Urges Law Makers to Consider Legislation That Will Lower Webcasters' Fees; As a Number of Internet Radio Stations Have Already Shutdown Due to Librarian's Decision.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

BRS Media, an e-commerce firm that specializes in assisting radio station and multimedia websites build and brand on the power of the Web, today released details of a letter urging law makers in Washington to consider legislation that will lower Webcasters' Fees and overturn the Librarian of Congress's decision on Internet radio royalty rates.

In the letter to Congress BRS Media's Chairman & CEO George T. Bundy stated, "The Librarian's decision on Internet radio royalty rates has already had a direct impact on a once thriving Internet sector known as Web Radio." Bundy went on to write, "We are encouraged that the Librarian of Congress reduced the rates for internet-only webcasters to the same level as that of AM/FM radio Internet broadcasters. But we remain terribly concerned that this rate will lead to the elimination of hundreds of small, independent, internet-only radio stations." Bundy added, "In fact, we have already witnessed just that with great, internet-only stations like San Francisco based SomaFM (www.soma.fm) having to discontinue their webcast." He then added, "This decision on Internet radio royalty rates will effectively create a virtual monopoly, and will have the stamp of approval from the Librarian of Congress, by offering only a limited number of highly powerful companies the chance to survive."

Webcasting numbers recently released by BRS Media, a firm that has been tracking Radio on the Internet since 1995, indicated that the number of online radio stations worldwide is now down to 4557. As opposed to early Spring 2001 when there were over 5700 radio stations webcasting online. With those numbers in mind Bundy continued the letter, stating, "Unfortunately, the industry's growth continues to be stunted; and we are now seeing that the number of radio stations going offline has begun to exceed the number of new stations coming online."

Bundy recommended that congressional leaders consider legislation to modify the defective "willing-buyer/willing-seller" standard established by Congress, and thereby, used by the Librarian of Congress to determine these rates. Suggesting instead that the traditional fair market formula be the standard. "We believe a formula such as the traditional fair market formula would facilitate growth in the Internet Radio Industry rather than stifle it," said Bundy, adding, "And utilizing a formula such as this would also ensure that artists, writers, and record labels are fairly compensated."

BRS Media's letter can be viewed online: http://www.brsmedia.fm/congress/

If the Librarian's decision on Internet radio royalty rates stands it is feared that excellent Internet only stations like: Digitally Imported (www.di.fm), JamBands.FM (www.jambands.fm), WOTR.FM (www.wotr.fm), Total70s.FM (www.total70s.fm), RockRoll.FM (www.rockroll.fm) and Toastie Radio (www.toastieradio.com) will fall silent; being left without the resources required to continue providing the valuable online radio entertainment their thousands of listeners log on in search of.

BRS Media, a member of the International Webcasting Association (www.iwa.fm), is a full service Internet e-commerce firm whose online divisions include dotFM (www.dot.fm), the first registry in the world to offer premium multimedia domains under .FM. As well as, dotAM, & dotzCD (www.dot.am; www.dotz.cd), domain registrars of premium .AM, & .CD (TLD) multimedia domains. BRS Media Inc. can be found on the World Wide Web at www.brsmedia.fm.