Every year, streaming costs continue to climb, and unlike secular public broadcasters, Christian non-commercial stations don’t benefit from special rate structures or blanket agreements. We’re paying significantly more, yet we don’t have the buying power that other parts of the broadcasting industry enjoy.
Recently, Inside Radio reported that non-commercial religious broadcasters are making a renewed push for fairer streaming rates. Around the same time, the Federal Register published the latest increase in statutory webcasting royalties. Neither development was surprising, but together they serve as another reminder that this issue isn’t going away.
The question isn’t whether we have a problem. The question is what we’re going to do about it.
One thing I’ve learned is that there are already organizations fighting on behalf of Christian broadcasters, but they need our support.
You already know that the NRB Music License Committee is leading much of the fight. They’re challenging a system that often forces Christian non-commercial stations into rate catagories that can cost dramatically more than what secular public radio stations pay. Whether you’re part of a large network or running a single station, your participation matters. The more stations involved, the stronger the case becomes.
Alliance Defending Freedom is also in the fight with us. They’re exploring whether forcing faith-based non-commercial broadcasters into commercial-style rate structures raises First Amendment concerns. They’re looking for real stories from real stations—examples of how streaming costs affect ministry outreach, staffing, and local service.
Another issue that deserves attention is the disparity between Christian radio and NPR-affiliated stations.
Most people don’t realize that NPR and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting negotiate a single nationwide agreement with SoundExchange that covers public radio stations across the country. Christian broadcasters aren’t included in that arrangement.
That’s why efforts like the Local Radio Freedom Act matter. It’s also why many believe Congress should revisit how the DMCA defines “non-commercial educational” broadcasters. The current structure provides protections for secular public broadcasters while leaving Christian non-profits exposed to much higher costs.
At the very least, we should be asking for equal treatment.
I also think there’s a larger opportunity here…
Right now, Christian radio tends to approach these issues as hundreds of separate organizations. What if we approached them as one industry?
Imagine if Christian broadcasters pooled their Aggregate Tuning Hours and negotiated collectively during future royalty discussions. Instead of hundreds of individual webcasters trying to be heard, we’d represent a significant block of listeners and listening hours. That’s where real negotiating power begins.
There’s also precedent for using playlist “steering” as part of negotiations. Previous Copyright Royalty Board decisions have acknowledged that webcasters can make programming choices based on economic realities. A united Christian radio coalition would have far more influence in those conversations than any station could have on its own.
Perhaps the biggest untapped resource in this entire discussion is our audience.
Most listeners have no idea that every stream costs their station money. Most churches don’t realize that the stations promoting worship music and Christian artists are often paying increasingly higher fees.
Do listeners know this? What if stations across the country coordinated a week of on-air conversations explaining the issue in simple, understandable terms? What if churches, worship leaders, and artists joined the discussion?
Christian radio has always been strongest when we work together toward a common mission. This challenge shouldn’t be any different.
The bottom line is simple: the current streaming royalty system wasn’t designed with Christian non-commercial broadcasters in mind. If we want it to change, we’ll need more than individual stations working independently. We’ll need unity, collaboration, and a shared commitment to finding a better path forward.
The legal work is already underway. The advocacy groups are engaged. The conversation has started.
Now it’s up to the rest of us to join it.
NRB – https://nrb.org
Inside Radio – Noncommercial Religious Broadcasters Make New Push For Lower Streaming Royalty Rates
Federal Register – Cost of Living Adjustment to Royalty Rates for Webcaster Statutory License
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/12/06/2024-27834/cost-of-living-adjustment-to-royalty-rates-for-webcaster-statutory-license