SaveNetRadio:  Protecting a Fledgling Industry

When the Copyright Royalty Board, an obscure arm of Congress, drastically raised the royalty rates paid by Internet radio webcasters by a whopping 300%-1200%, they came to Qorvis to help them reverse the decision and fight against the looming payments, due in only a matter of months.  Qorvis mobilized and within two weeks, created SaveNetRadio, a broad-based coalition of webcasters, listeners, and artists and labels that catapulted the issue onto front pages across the country.  

Using our powerful combination of coalition-building, public relations,
grassroots lobbying and web communications, Qorvis kept the issue
alive and kicking in the press, helped the coalition bring groups
of Internet radio executives and independent artists to
Capitol Hill to tell their stories.  They testified in
the House of Representatives, held staff
briefings, talked with staff, and held concerts
on the park grounds of the Senate, in the
shadow of the US Capitol.

The campaign generated 400,000 calls and
400,000 letters to Congress in less than 3
months, and the overwhelming response forced
Congress to introduce the “Internet Radio
Equality Act” in both the House and the Senate.   
Congressional staffers have called SaveNetRadio
the "grassroots campaign of the year."