A selection of your
comments on the PPL issue

OK, so the UK is going to be as stupid as the US has been for years, and only now (after this same BS since 2001) the States stations are just (finally) reappearing on the web... how silly is that? There's also an option, I suppose, for the larger group station owners to pay the fee and continue to stream for free anywhere or allow out of area people to subscribe - both of which have been done in the States with some success - witness WFMT in Chicago which offers an annual subscription for about $60 US. I guess I just don't understand the greed the licensing bodies seem to have. I own 4 newspapers and freely let anyone who wishes reprint anything free after I have used it once. I feel after I've had my single use it's paid off for me... anything further is greed so I gladly give all reprint rights gratis.

Ted, Indiana, USA

This is just simply wrong! Ever since I've visited your country four years ago, I've always enjoyed listening to the various stations in Britain and really enjoying the music, the people, the commercials. Now I have to lose this? This is no way to get the UK music to be heard 'round the world'. I'm very upset over this. I'm sure there could be a way somehow for us outside your country to listen to these streams, even if it means subscription.

David, New York, USA

I regularly listen to different streams from UK radio stations, and I often buy albums of music I would not otherwise have heard from the local Danish radio stations. If the streams get restricted to the UK only, then my source of finding out the new music that interests me is limited. Therefore, I will be supporting less musicians. I wonder if anyone has thought about this side of the broadcasting restrictions? Strange, too, that the BBC is not affected by this new clause, just the commercial stations!

Dave, Copenhagen, Denmark

What pure unbridled greed. These corporate clowns would step over their own mothers for a dollar.

Ryan, Texas, USA

The percentage of listeners on the internet in other countries is a fraction of the possible TSA of the stations broadcasting terrestrially. PPL really need to think about how stupid this rule is!

Tom, Greater London, UK

Beyond music, listening to local UK stations has given me great insights into life in the smaller cities of the country and has stoked my interest to visit them. It would be a step back for promoting tourism to the UK if radio streaming gets stopped at the borders.

Ivan, Singapore

This is very disappointing news. I have really enjoyed listening to UK radio stations and I appreciate the service that this site provides. I wish that something could be done to reverse the decision of this PPL organization. It is also sad to see the greed that exists in the music industry.

Trevor, Texas, USA

As an English man living in the States, I am very disappointed by this move. I listen to my home town radio station on a daily basis to keep up with home town news and British music. I just can't comprehend this move and what possible gain can be achieved! Why would a small radio station in Wigan pay more to allow for global streaming? It just doesn't make sense. It's so typically British... tax the consumer in any way possible.

Dave, Florida, USA

This is a shock. My friend who works at UK station warned me of this a few months back and I panicked. Now it's happened I don't know what to do with myself. I already feel cut off from the world (Living in the US you feel like you're in a bubble anyway) and now this - it really makes me annoyed!

Luke, California, USA

This issue of PPL ending audio streaming outside the UK is sad. First, the BBC cuts back on their international broadcasts because we Yanks can listen via the web, and now this. Pity, I rather enjoyed listening to a fresh perspective from the other side of the pond.

Nicole, Kansas, USA

As radio has always been and now is my primary form of entertainment, I find it extremely unfortunate that I might no longer have access to an internet stream. I would rather a station did not stream at all rather than being denied to the stream. This is difficult for me to understand. Do we all have to make money all of the time for everything we do? Will I eventually be paid for going to the restroom? Thanks much for your incredible site and for the Football schedules you have been putting up.

John, California, USA

I first became aware of the new PPL regulations when my attempts to listen to my favourite London station failed on April 1, 2006 - and it wasn't an April Fool's joke. Well beyond music rights - this action blocks the ability for people around the world to hear, learn and keep up with news and culture from the UK. The Internet made the world a smaller place; the PPL's actions severs the UK from the rest of the world. If the PPL is all about protecting the rights of performance copyright holders one would think focusing on counterfeiting and illegal downloading, etc. would have better economic return than globally blocking Internet distribution. Unfortunately this may only be the beginning...

Bob, Massachusetts, USA