| Eyes Of The Poet Radio occupies a narrow niche | | | | played on Internet radio, to each listener. In |
| in the world of Internet radio. The station streams | | | | addition to the new rate increases, the CRB |
| New Age and Ambient music along with audio | | | | added a minimum fee of $500 per channel, per |
| poetry, interviews, and information about books. | | | | year. |
| "The original idea behind creating the station was | | | | "In my opinion, this new rate structure is just |
| to give audio poetry a chance to be heard, for | | | | brilliant," says Douthit. "It's designed to kill off most |
| free, anywhere in the world," according to Brian | | | | of Internet radio as we know it. Really, it's the |
| Douthit, owner of Eyes Of The Poet Radio. | | | | plan of a true mastermind." Douthit points out that |
| Poetry isn't one of those high-demand, | | | | the large fees collected from 2006 along with |
| blockbuster sellers that consumers clamor for on | | | | increased fees for 2007 will bankrupt, or financially |
| a daily basis. For most people, poetry is a once in | | | | cripple, most large Internet radio providers such |
| a while sampling, if they even choose to listen at | | | | as Yahoo, AOL, and those like them who have |
| all. Douthit chose to broadcast the audio poetry | | | | large audiences. The $500 yearly fee per channel |
| with New Age and Ambient music believing that | | | | is aimed at the small, niche stations like Eyes Of |
| the music wouldn't crowd out the poetry. It's | | | | The Poet Radio. "For me, the additional fees could |
| been a good fit, but Eyes Of The Poet Radio is | | | | bring my total costs to $1000 per year," Douthit |
| unique, and "unique" in the Internet radio business | | | | adds. "It's enough to make me say, 'Hey, this is |
| means fewer listeners. "I'm not really concerned | | | | getting serious!' And it makes me ask myself if |
| about how many listeners I have," says Douthit, | | | | operating a small Internet radio station is really |
| "I'm just glad the station exists for those who | | | | worth it." Douthit receives little or no income from |
| want to listen. It's very much 'art for art's sake'." | | | | operating his station- a fact of life for most small |
| Eyes Of The Poet Radio may soon be off the air. | | | | broadcasters on the Internet. The new $500 fee |
| On March 2nd, the Copyright Royalty Board | | | | is enough to stop most small broadcasters from |
| (CRB) announced its determination of the new | | | | operating, and enough to prevent new |
| royalty rate increases Internet radio broadcasters | | | | broadcasters from even starting. "It's almost as if |
| must pay to license music. Although this is the | | | | someone asked how to tackle both the large and |
| year 2007, the new rate increase also applies to | | | | small broadcasters?" says Douthit, "This new rate |
| 2006, and continues to increase each year | | | | structure enacted by the CRB is how. |
| through 2010. These rates apply to each song | | | | |