Your ballot could make a difference.

Byline: BUZZWORTHY The Register-Guard

MySpacers who follow local music might know this already, but Reeble Jar is in contention for the May "new groove of the month" on jambands.com.

We feel pretty good endorsing Reeble Jar. Not only are the Reebles nice guys with a lot of talent and increasing ambition, of the 80 artists vying for the honor, Reeble is the only local band.

Last we checked, Reeble Jar had slipped into eighth place. The band's summer tourmate, Blue Turtle Seduction, was in third. You can vote every few hours.

While we're in the spirit of voicing opinions with mouse clicks, online radio stations such as Rhapsody and Pandora are asking supporters to sign a petition to fight an early March decision by the federal Copyright Royalty Board.

It would almost triple the amount the Internet stations must pay in royalties for streaming music. An e-mail from Pandora says these fees would bankrupt Internet radio stations, noting that the fees are four times what satellite radio stations pay.

Traditional radio doesn't pay royalties at all.

Research the issue with the SaveNetRadio Coalition, starting at www .savenetradio.org, then choose whether to sign up.

You also can find background and discussion at www.broadcastlawblog.com, a blog maintained by broadcast attorney David Wright Tremaine.

This week, you can flex your advocacy muscle in a more bricks-and-mortar type way by attending events that benefit FOOD for Lane County. Saturday is the annual Queen's Ball, hosted by reigning Slug Queen Slugretha Latifah Uleafa Gastropodia Jackson.

Wednesday is the annual Chefs' Night Out, where you can dazzle your taste buds while your ticket money goes to fighting hunger.

For extras on Brian Cutean, Captain Bogg & Salty, Dan Neal and more, visit www.registerguard.com/ ticketfiles.