Joseph Gallagher Interview

How will the new royalty structure effect your operation?

If it were to stand it would force mvyradio and many other webcasters out of business. This is not rhetoric; this is a plain simple easy to understand truth. We do not make enough now to be truly viable. The proposed fees would make it impossible to even continue trying. Furthermore if they were to stand, mvyradio, and all others would have a hefty 2006 bill that needs to be paid as well.

How will MVYRadio adapt?

We are working with other small webcasters and publicwebcaster (pubcasters) to fight the decision, legally and by asking our listeners to speak with congress. There will be no adapting unless the rates are realistic. They are so far out of the ballpark, and the RIAA is unrealistic about what is reasonable, arriving at something that will enable small companies like ours to continue to serve independent music and unknown artists to our audiences is a scary proposition.

Will the decison be overruled?

It’s hard to say if it will be overruled or if the RIAA will just decide to settle with certain groups. Unfortunately from our point of view settling give the RIAA all of the negotiating power so arriving at a reasonable settlement may be impossible.

The shame of this entire thing is that the RIAA is trying to tell musicians this is in their best interest and the rates are reasonable. If you shut off lots of outlets that play artists music that wouldn’t get airplay in today’s mainstream media, is that good for artists?

We don’t think so. None of the people I know among the small or public webcasters is making money. Therefore this is a very big problem.