Pandora, SOMA FM, other net radio broadcasters ask supporters to call Congress ASAP.

Posted by Xeni Jardin, September 26, 2008 10:00 PM | permalink

Tom Conrad of Pandora tweets, "Help save @pandora_radio: call 202-225-3121 NOW, ask for your rep, & ask them to support H.R. 7084. Critical vote Saturday AM., so call now!"

In more than 140 characters, on 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.

More: Congressional Emergency! (Pandora blog), Pandora Needs Our Help Now! (Digg), Pandora to Congress: Vote now, we're running out of time (CNET: The Social), Pandora, Nearing Survival Deal, Gets New Threat From NAB (Gizmodo). (thanks, Wayne de Geere)

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Discussion

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#1 posted by zikman, September 26, 2008 11:13 PM

I don't use pandora much, but bah god if I'll let soma fm go down. I need my groove salad!

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#2 posted by minamisan, September 27, 2008 3:33 AM

Congress... aren't they the people who defend large corporations against the general public?

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#3 posted by aadaamhun, September 27, 2008 5:20 AM

Funny... they throwed me out without enabling me to export my data because I was from Europe... I searched for a replacement solution for years, now some stations start to have nearly as good recommendation engine to my musical taste as Pandora's was, but it took years.

Now they sent a letter to me asking for my support. For the sake of why?

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#4 posted by Linds, September 27, 2008 7:25 AM

I'm a Canadian so I don't have a rep in worshington. But I do miss Pandora. Working for 2 years at I.B.M. with an American public gateway only made the separation harder to take

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#5 posted by dgjiv, September 28, 2008 7:08 PM

Is there any update on whether HR7084 passed? I listen to Pandora all the time while on the road to compliment some of the playlist that I bring along.

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#6 posted by sonny p fontaine, September 29, 2008 7:42 AM

PANDORA UPDATE cut and paste from email

"Hi, it's Tim from Pandora;

Today, thanks to the extraordinary support of many Pandora listeners, we took a giant step forward when the House of Representatives supported Pandora and Internet radio and passed the Webcaster Settlement Act of 2008. Now we need your help so that the Senate will pass it also - and quickly... The finish line is in sight!

After a yearlong negotiation, Pandora, SoundExchange and the RIAA are finally optimistic about reaching an agreement on royalties that would save Pandora and Internet radio. The legislation would give us the extra time we need to finalize the deal.

Please call your Senators Monday morning starting at 9:00 (Eastern) and ask them to support the Webcaster Settlement Act of 2008.

The person who answers the phone in your Senator's office may ask for the bill number - it's H.R. 7084 (if they ask for a Senate bill number, you can assure them that in this unusual case, the Senate is actually voting on the House bill number)."