What happens next for small webcasters?

[TheBigA]

This is a good article that lays out what might happen next. Obviously the latest rate change affected a lot of people. Not just webcasters by businesses that were built around creating platforms for those webcasters. They might be better positioned to state their case to SoundExchange. That's what this article suggests:

http://rainnews.com/small-webcasters-enter-the-unknown-of-2016/

 

[Casey]

I don't see anything changing. It will be either pay up, go overseas, or take a shady route.

It will be interesting to see what happens to some of the medium-sized broadcasters. There has been speculation that some of them do not pay their proper royalty obligations. I guess if they continue as usual in the coming months we will know for sure. I don't see how any medium-sized webcaster can actually afford these rates. Can't say I feel sorry for them either. They are the ones capable of making small-medium streamer's voices heard. And they have done absolutely nothing.

 

[Casey]

Sound Exchange is planning to audit a number of major broadcasters and internet webcasters. It will be interesting to see if they find anything.

I'm not sure how they decided who to audit. The companies I would audit have not ever been included. And they have never made it clear if they have ever found anything. If they find anything I would look for them to expand audits as far as they legally can, including small webcasters if they think it is financially worth their time. Or rather their licensing groups. Especially with the change in royalty rates.

 

[TheBigA]

I'm not sure how they decided who to audit.

Apparently this is a regular thing. The law allows them to do it, so they do. Probably a hunting expedition.

 

[Casey]

Apparently this is a regular thing. The law allows them to do it, so they do. Probably a hunting expedition.

Yeah I just read that. I bet they push it as far as the law will allow now that they know companies are under higher pressure from higher rates.

 

[K.M. Richards]

Yeah I just read that. I bet they push it as far as the law will allow now that they know companies are under higher pressure from higher rates.

Remember you said that when the streamers who go overseas get caught by a wide-ranging audit, okay?