MeasureCast reports that despite the recent appearance of several roadblocks for online broadcasters, many stations still streaming their programs continued to experience dramatic audience growth during the week of April 16-22.
The report shows that among the 24 comparable stations from the previous week’s MeasureCast Weekly Top 25, 22 stations experienced an increase in the total number of hours streamed while fourteen stations showed an increase in Cume. Significant increases in total time spent listening were logged by ESPNRadio.com, which saw a 43 percent increase in TTSL, while KLTY-FM-Dallas/Ft. Worth enjoyed a 36 percent increase in TTSL, and Virgin Radio streamed 35 percent more hours than the previous week. Internet-only broadcaster MEDIAmazing.com, the number one music station in the MeasureCast Top 25, turned in a 17 percent increase in TTSL over the week of April 9-15.
But the news was not all rosy. The MeasureCast Internet Radio Index, which tracks the total number of hours streamed by broadcasters measured by MeasureCast, dropped six percent – from 141 to 132. Stations owned by Clear Channel, ABC, and Emmis have all discontinued streaming until the current controversy over the AFTRA contract – requiring substantial fees if ads originally recorded for radio are played over the Internet – is resolved. Moreover, and all stations must contend with a recent ruling by the U.S. Copyright Office that reaffirms a December 11, 2000 decision requiring broadcasters to pay both sets of royalty fees.