#Media Issues
Target:
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull & Federal MP Karen Andrews
Region:
Australia

On Friday, January 21 more than 200 local regional stations shut down their internet simulcasting services to avoid the interim licence scheme in a battle with Phonographic Performance Company of Australia Ltd (PPCA) who is asking for broadcasters to pay a second time for the same broadcast over the internet. The PPCA represents the record labels and artists.

I am all for artists receiving the fees they deserve but really if a radio station is playing the exact same broadcast over the internet at the exact same time should they be charged for a second licence.

Who is the losers here? the public of course!

The radio stations are making a stand by closing down the simulcasting services.

I'm an avid listener of Rebel FM on the Gold Coast as I love the music and it provides local content. I can't listen to it on a radio as I am unable to get reception at work, but I could listen to it online. So what station do I now listen to all day at work now? Triple M in SYDNEY. How ridiculous is that!!! Again they play music I like and all day long I have to listen to Sydney content like the traffic status of James Ruse Drive.

It's not about who anyone likes to listen to though, it's really about having equal choice.

Whilst many of the radio stations are using regional "CUSTOMERS" as pawns in this battle, the PPCA has to get real about this. Next they will be wanting royalties for that song in your head that just sticks there.

I'm petitioning to Karen Andrews, an MP of the Gold Coast, and the Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Karen Andrews is my local Federal member, I voted for her and she does great things for the Gold Coast. And, apart from this being within his ministerial jurisdiction, I believe Malcolm Turnbull has some common sense about him.

Just because you live in a regional area shouldn't mean you have less choice or access to content on the internet.

Please help by supporting this petition.

Below are some recent news articles on the subject:

http://www.afr.com/p/business/marketing_media/music_industry_cries_foul_over_radio_KBA0ihW0Qsoqh4LZlXP9CJ

http://www.bandt.com.au/news/media/regional-internet-radio-switches-off-ppca-disappoi

http://themusic.com.au/news/all/2014/02/03/radio-labels-in-bitter-dispute-as-internet-streams-switched-off/

Att: Karen Andrews MP, Malcolm Turnbull MP

We, the undersigned, call on to you both to stand for the people and resolve the dispute between the PPCA and radio stations, and stop the PPCA double dipping with music royalties.

Regional areas deserve equal choice and access to content on the internet.

Regional areas do not deserve further business costs which will increase fees to regional advertisers and ultimately the public in general.

Yours sincerely

Paul Crapper, and the undersigned petitioners.

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The Stop PPCA double dipping with online radio! petition to Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull & Federal MP Karen Andrews was written by Paul Crapper and is in the category Media Issues at GoPetition.