The copyright royalty flap over webcasts has hit America's premier
classical radio station WFMT.  The station broadcasts more variety and
live programming than other stations.  It is the only commercial radio
station in the nation to maintain a live copy policy where all ad copy
must be read on air live without pre-recorded jingles.

Kelly

Chicago Sun Times

WFMT pulling the plug on Internet broadcasts

October 8, 2002

BY ROBERT FEDER
SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST



Once in the vanguard of broadcast technology, WFMT-FM (98.7) is yanking
its signal off the Internet, effectively cutting off the classical music
station from its worldwide audience.

Effective Monday, WFMT will cease streaming its signal.

Steve Robinson, WFMT's vice president for radio, cited the $30,000 annual
cost of maintaining the service and potentially huge royalty fees that
are being calculated retroactive to 1998, when the station began
streaming its signal on the Internet.

"Terminating this service is something we tried hard to avoid, but given
the reality of having to pay not only past royalties but future royalties
at a rate that is still being determined makes continuing service at this
point impossible," Robinson said. "We feel very badly that we can no
longer provide WFMT to listeners outside the Chicago market."

Once the federal government approves a payment structure for royalties,
the station will seek funding to cover them. Resumption of streaming also
is a possibility. "We just can't afford to do it at this point," Robinson
said.


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