Just when you think that the music industry can’t sink any lower…
Founder Tim Westergren has stated that the service is approaching a “pull-the-plug kind of decision” for the service. Why is this happening? Last year, web radio giants were hit with outrageously ridiculous fees by a federal panel for every song that would be played on their stations. This caused a lot of services to either shutdown, or go through what Pandora has been experiencing for the past year. In doing so, it seems the financial problems the music industry has set out to create in order to win the constant battle between rights, piracy, and copyrighted music, are working.
So perhaps the most significant opportunity for the music industry in the last 5 years (iPhone + Pandora + instant purchase) is at risk because of idiotic music industry lobbying efforts and bad legislation. Genius.
I love how anti-welfare so many Americans (and a certain political party) can be, yet corporate welfare as shown here for the music industry or seen in industries from steel to airlines to investment houses is perfectly acceptable.
Want to help save Pandora and internet radio? Head to SaveNetRadio.org.
