RE: Pandora :-(

["Mark McCall" <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks Tim

M.



-----Original Message-----
From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Tim Hawes
Sent: 08 January 2008 08:22
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ukha_d] Pandora :-(

Not at all :-)
I did look to see if it was on Pandora's site as well, but couldn't seem to
find it. I'll send you the original version off list as that might display
better (logos etc.)

Cheers,

Tim.

On 1/8/08, Mark McCall <lists@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> Tim
>
> Do you mind if I post a copy of that email to AH ?
>
> M.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On Behalf
> Of Tim
> Sent: 07 January 2008 23:27
> To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> Subject: [ukha_d] Pandora :-(
>
> Anyone else get this email from Pandora?
>
> :-(
>
>
>
> Tim.
>
>
>
>
>
>  ---
>
> Quote:
>
> This is an email I hoped I would never have to send.
>
> As you probably know, in July of 2007 we had to block usage of Pandora
> outside the U.S. because of the lack of a viable license structure for
> Internet radio streaming in other countries. It was a terrible day. We
> did however hold out some hope that a solution might exist for the UK,
> so we left it unblocked as we worked diligently with the rights
> organizations to negotiate an economically workable license fee. After
> over a year of trying, this has proved impossible. Both the PPL (which
> represents the record
> labels) and the MCPS/PRS Alliance (which represents music publishers)
> have demanded per track performance minima rates which are far too
> high to allow ad supported radio to operate and so, hugely
> disappointing and depressing to us as it is, we have to block the last
territory outside of the US.
>
> Based upon the IP address from which you recently visited Pandora, it
> appears that you are listening from the UK. If you are, in fact,
> listening from the US, please contact Pandora Support:
pandora-support@xxxxxxx.
>
> It continues to astound me and the rest of the team here that the
> industry is not working more constructively to support the growth of
> services that introduce listeners to new music and that are totally
> supportive of paying fair royalties to the creators of music. I don't
> often say such things, but the course being charted by the labels and
> publishers and their representative organizations is nothing short of
> disastrous for artists whom they purport to represent - and by that I
> mean both well known and indie artists. The only consequence of
> failing to support companies like Pandora that are attempting to build
> a sustainable radio business for the future will be the continued
> explosion of piracy, the continued constriction of opportunities for
> working musicians, and a worsening drought of new music for fans. As a
former working musician myself, I find it very troubling.
>
> We have been told to sign these totally unworkable license rates or
> switch off, non-negotiable...so that is what we are doing. Streaming
> illegally is just not in our DNA, and we have to take the threats of
> legal action seriously. Lest you think this is solely an international
> problem, you should know that we are also fighting for our survival
> here in the US, in the face of a crushing increase in web radio
> royalty rates, which if left unchanged, would mean the end of Pandora.
>
> We know what an epicenter of musical creativity and fan support the UK
> has always been, which makes the prospect of not being able to launch
> there and having to block our first listeners all the more upsetting
for
us.
>
> We know there is a lot of support from listeners and artists in the UK
> for Pandora and remain hopeful that at some point we'll get beyond
> this. We're going to keep fighting for a fair and workable rate
> structure that will allow us to bring Pandora back to you. We'll be
> sure to let you know if Pandora becomes available in the UK. There may
> well come a day when we need to make a direct appeal for your support
> to move for governmental intervention as we have in the US. In the
> meantime, we have no choice but to turn off service to the UK.
>
> Pandora will stop streaming to the UK as of January 15th, 2008.
>
> Again, on behalf of all of us at Pandora, I'm very, very sorry.
>
>
>
> -Tim Westergren
> (Pandora founder)
>
> End quote
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
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