Lately it seems that all the publicity in the world won’t do Pandora any good. Last month Pandora’s founder, Tim Westergren, talked about making a “pull-the-plug kind of decision” for the service. “The moment we think this problem in Washington is not going to get solved, we have to pull the plug because all we’re doing is wasting money,” Westergren stated.
For those who don’t know, Pandora has been facing closure due to being hit with outrageous fees by a federal panel. Now Westergren is sending a plea to listeners of Pandora for their support.
Update: The House has passed the Webcaster Settlement Act. Please see Pandora Lives a Little Longer, House Passes Webcaster Act for an update on this story.
Emergency: Calling All Pandora Listeners
Yesterday Westergren posted his “call of arms” to the Pandora blog:
“After a yearlong negotiation, Pandora, artists and record companies are finally optimistic about reaching an agreement on royalties that would save Pandora and Internet radio. But just as we’ve gotten close, large traditional broadcast radio companies have launched a covert lobbying campaign to sabotage our progress.
Yesterday, Congressman Jay Inslee, and several co-sponsors, introduced legislation to give us the extra time we need but the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), which represents radio broadcasters such as Clear Channel, has begun intensively pressuring lawmakers to kill the bill. We have just a day or two to keep this from collapsing.
This is a blatant attempt by large radio companies to suffocate the webcasting industry that is just beginning to offer an alternative to their monopoly of the airwaves.
Please call your Congressperson right now and ask them to support H.R. 7084, the Webcaster Settlement Act of 2008 – and to not capitulate to pressure from the NAB. Congress is currently working extended hours, so even calls this evening and over the weekend should get answered.”
Support the Cause, Act Now!
Here at ReadWriteWeb, we’re huge fans of Pandora. We’d hate to see the service make our list of apps that we miss. We’re asking our readers for their help in saving Pandora. Please call the central congressional switchboard at (202) 225 3121 or look up your state’s House Representative and plead with them to support H.R. 7084. This will allow Pandora and all respective parties to have more time to make the necessary changes that could keep Pandora alive. Support the cause to keep this awesome service going.
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