Music service Pandora near decision on possible shut-down

Pandora, a popular world Wide Web radio overhaul, has indicated that the burden of royalty payments under a new rate schedule imposed by rates agent SoundExchange could force the company's closure, according to a report in Saturday's (8/16) Washington Post.

Pandora founder Tim Westergen indicated to the Post that an estimated 70% of the company's revenue for 2008 will go to royalty payments, leaving minimal cash to support the company's operations and give back any security deposit to investors of the venture-backed startup.

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Under a opinion by a federal panel last year, per-song performance royalty rates for web-based broadcasters doubled, while mundane broadcasters retained their exemption from obligation of that royalty.

U.S. Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA) is attempting to forge a late compromise between SoundExchange, which represents artists and record companies, and web broadcasters, simply both sides remain far apart on key points, according to the Post.

Westergren sees the situation as untenable for Pandora unless the royalty burden crapper be alleviated. "We're losing money as it is," he told the Post. "The consequence we cogitate this problem in Washington is not going to get solved, we make to commit the plug because all we're doing is wasting away money."

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Download Lynwood Slim

Artist: Lynwood Slim: mp3 download    Genre(s):  Blues     Discography:      Lost In America    Year: 1997    Tracks: 11 Lynwood Slim mat there were only 2 things he could do to make a living: shoot pool or play harmonica. Thank goodness he chose to be a musician. As a minor he played trumpet, simply at 15 he picked up the harmonica. Although drawn to listening to Jimmy Reed and Little Walter, he made the career choice afterward observance Brooklyn Slim and Paul Oscher. His early memorable gigs allowed him to sit down in with Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson and others. When the southern California scene dried up in the mid-'70s, he jammed up and affected to Minneapolis. Less than a workweek subsequently approach into townspeople, Slim replaced a band's premature harp thespian, Kim Wilson, wHO left for Austin to flesh the Fabulous Thunderbirds with Jimmy Vaughan. Eventually, he formed the Lynwood Slim Band, working much with Leonard "Baby Doo" Caston, James Smith and Walter Horton. His style of swing blues won him numerous awards bestowed by the Minnesota Music Academy, and he documented melodious triumphs with Lost in America, released in 1990; and Soul Feet, released in 1991 and reissued five long time subsequently. Slim briefly returned to Los Angeles, where united Dave Specter and touched to Chicago in 1995. Several years by and by, syndicate luck and the reblossoming of the southerly California scene returned Slim home. Besides his presence gracing the live L.A. scene, Slim and producer Jerry Hall have produced European and American artists over the long time. In 1998, they set up their own record pronounce, Pacific Blue Recording Company; Populace Wide Wood followed in 2000.

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Bean Arrested Over Wife Assault Claims

Lord Of The Rings star Sean Bean has been arrested on suspicion of domestic assault. The actor was questioned by police in London for six hours after his new married woman Georgina filed a complaint. She alleges the 49-year-old assaulted her during a row at their London home. But Georgina, 29, later dropped the assault claim. A police spokesman said: "Police were called to a residential address. A male was arrested. "He was subsequently informed no further action was being interpreted against him." His married woman told reporters following Bean's release from custody, "Everything is OK. Sean and I are at nursing home together enjoying the cheer. He was arrested. Everything was blown out of proportion. "The police held him quite a patch, but Sean is fine and I'm fine. There's no problem between us." The couple wed in February . It is Bean's fourth marriage.