According to a report by Club Net Radio released in March 2007[dead link], under the new rates, annual fees for all http://www.gracedigitalaudio.com/wireless-internet-radio-p-11.html station owners are projected to reach $2.3 billion by 2008. This figure is more than four times that for traditional radio broadcasters who, due to terms set forth in the 1998 Digital Millennium Exercise Control Act, are exempt from the additional royalties imposed on digital broadcasting outlets, which compensate the performers and copyright owners of recorded works. Both traditional radio and Internet/digital radio broadcasters are responsible for royalties collected by performance rights organizations (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC) on behalf of the composers of recorded works.
US Internet broadcasters organized a nationwide coalition to oppose the rate hike and in support of the Internet Radio Equality Act. On June 26, multifold of them participated in a "Day of Silence" â either shutting off their audio streams entirely, or replacing their streams with static, ocean measure or other ambience, interspersed with limited not private service announcements â to focus thinking on the consequences of the impending progression hike.