Small and medium sized internet-only radio broadcasters are facing a very immediate danger in 2016, due to changes in the performance rates that they are obligated to pay. Some estimates indicate that these fees may increase by as much as ten-fold, threatening to put hundreds, or even thousands of stations out of business. Paul digs in to explain what we know, and what we don’t know about the situation.

Jennifer Waits looks back at college radio in 2015, taking a moment to reflect on the contagious enthusiasm she encountered at stations around the country. Matthew Lasar discusses the change in format at struggling community radio station KUSP in Santa Cruz, CA, and the new music he’s discovered listening to it.

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Show Notes:

* Why American Independent Internet Radio May Go Extinct in 2016

* 2015 Year in Review: College Radio is Thriving

* Rough notes: reflections on (patiently) listening to the new KUSP