WASHINGTON — Like any musician, New Orleans jazz clarinetist Michael White says he would love to collect royalty checks every time an Internet radio station plays one of his recordings.But not, White said, if the royalty payments force the Internet stations off the air.

White was in Washington this week for a concert and to lobby members of Congress to intercede and take steps to ensure that Internet radio continues.

White, 53, who recently released his first post-Katrina CD, “Blue Crescent,” said he accepts that few AM or FM stations, even the small number devoted to jazz, will play his songs. But he said he regularly encounters fans at concerts who tell him, ” ‘I found out about you on Internet radio.’ “

“A lot of blues, folk and jazz musicians make most of their money at touring concerts,” White said. “We’re not advocating destroying royalties, but want a royalty system that is fair with comparable media.”

There are currently hundreds of Internet radio stations, some of which cater to fans of music that will never make it on top-40 formats.

At issue is a decision by the Copyright Royalty Board last year to raise Internet royalty rates, calculated as a flat per-song fee for each listener. An association of Internet stations said that the fees would eat away all or most of their earnings.

Some Internet stations ceased operations in anticipation of the higher rates, but others are continuing, buoyed by a decision by SoundExchange, which represents major performers, not to seek immediate payment of the new rates until it engages in negotiations with Internet station owners. SoundExchange said that revenue for Internet stations is often higher than claimed by station owners, an argument disputed by the coalition of Internet station operators.

But White said Congress should step in to allow the Internet to continue to provide the kind of diverse programming not available on conventional or even satellite radio.

It’s been a difficult three years for White, who, like thousands of other New Orleans residents, lost his home during Hurricane Katrina, along with dozens of rare vintage instruments, thousands of recordings, footage of every filmed performance by Louis Armstrong, and his own recorded interviews with jazz greats. Most of the interviews can’t be re-created because the musicians are dead.

White has won support for his efforts from Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sam Brownback, R-Kan. Both say they’ll push their legislation to roll back the royalty increases approved by the royalty board unless negotiations between SoundExchange and Internet stations are successful.

Not only do the stations help a diverse group of musical artists, Brownback said, but they also provide important programming opportunities for many churches and religious groups.

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Bruce Alpert can be reached at [email protected] or 202.383.7861.

DURHAM, N.C. – WNCU 90.7 FM and North Carolina Central University’s Alumni Affairs office have developed a new partnership to connect with NCCU graduates. Beginning Saturday, July 12, 2008, at 10:30 a.m., WNCU will air the first installment of NCCU Alumni Today, a new talk show. The show will offer graduates information about what¹s happening on campus and in the lives of their fellow Eagles.Truitt O’Neal hosts the show. He is a 2001 graduate of NCCU with his bachelor’s degree in English and a concentration in electronic media. He is the former general manager of Audionet, NCCU’s student radio station. He also worked as a student staff member for WNCU. Currently, O’Neal is the news and public affairs director for WNNL The Light 103.9 FM and the Raleigh affiliate producer of the Yolanda Adams Morning Show.

“I am enthusiastic about returning to WNCU to produce NCCU Alumni Today,” said O’Neal. “Over the upcoming weeks I look forward to talking with NCCU alumni from all walks of life across the country and around the world.”

Norma Petway, a 1977 graduate of NCCU and director of Alumni Relations, says the mission of NCCU Alumni Today as an extension of the mission of her office. According to Petway, the show “will update graduates on activities at NCCU and give information on how they can participate in university activities and contribute financially. The goal is to encourage every graduate to become an active Eagle.”

Since its debut in August 1995, WNCU, 90.7 FM, licensed to North Carolina Central University, has consistently fulfilled its mission to provide quality, culturally-appropriate programming to public radio listeners in the Triangle area. The format of this listener supported public radio station entertains the jazz aficionado, educates the novice jazz listener and disseminates news and information relative to the community-at-large. WNCU 90.7 FM is a 50,000 watt public radio station and an affiliate of NPR, PRI and Pacifica Radio.

He is the most important jazz musician of all time, and even that’s an understatement. Louis Armstrong defined American popular culture in the 20th century as a musician and an entertainer. As a singer and trumpeter, he taught the world to swing…from NPR

Celebrate the 4th of July with Louis Armstrong and WNCU. It is our annual tribute to the undisputed master of swing. All day during the jazz programming, Louis Armstrong will get heavy rotation. From his early days with the hot 5’s and 7’S all the way to Hello Dolly, WNCU will broadcast the best of Louis.

So get ready to tap your feet, snap your fingers and sing along with your favorites!

Tune in at noon on the 4th for a special Jazz Profiles program, Louis Armstrong, the Trumpeter.

Durham, N.C. – Kitty Kinnin, a fixture in Triangle radio for almost two decades, returns to the airwaves to host a new blues show, “Tell Mama – Saturday Night Blues” on WNCU, 90.7 FM.

Kinnin joins the station after four years in Wilmington, N.C., hosting a local TV show on WWAY TV3 and narrating the documentary, “Diversity, Part 1” for Step Up Wilmington. Kinnin also managed the marketing and public relations campaign for the new luxury condo development downtown, The View on Water Street. Edith Thorpe, general manager of WNCU says, “Kitty is a seasoned radio professional and we are elated that she has joined our team.”

Kinnin admits, “I’m back where I belong – in the Triangle and in front of a mic playing the music.” Although she spent her entire Triangle career in commercial radio—12 years on WRDU as midday personality and host of Sunday Jazz Brunch, four years doing the same on FOXY 107/104 and briefly, at Curtis Media—Kinnin looks forward to the challenge of public radio.

“At WNCU, 90.7, they are all about the music and that’s rarely found in local commercial radio,” said Kinnin. “I’ve always had a passion for jazz and the blues, so this is a perfect fit for me.” Saturday nights on WNCU are dedicated to the blues. From its roots in the field hollers, work songs and church choirs, from Africa to the Mississippi Delta, Beale Street to the Streets of Chicago and to our own Piedmont, Kitty will put together her own special mix during “Tell Mama – Saturday Night Blues.” The show debuts Saturday night, July 5, at 8 p.m., on WNCU 90.7 FM.

The great pianist Ahmad Jamal will be receiving this year’s Donostiako Jazzaldia Award. Starting in 1994, the San Sebastian Jazz Festival has given this award to an outstanding musician for his lifetime career and his contribution to jazz.Ahmad Jamal is unique. Alter being considered one of the greatest musicians by his colleagues, Miles Davis among them, he now lives a splendid maturity assuring him a position among the most important names in jazz. He revolutionized jazz piano in the 50s thanks to his subtlety under the simplicity of his music, and has been a major influence for all piano players since then. In his recent recordings, specially those together with George Coleman, the richness of his musical universe and his permanent vitality are always present. His career has been recognized with several important awards such as the Knighthood of Arts and Letters of France (Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres) and the American Jazz Masters Award.

*Award winners since 1994*
Doc Cheatham (1994)
Phil Woods (1995)
Hank Jones (1996)
Steve Lacy (1997)
Chick Corea (1998)
Max Roach and Clark Terry (1999)
Kenny Barron (2000)
Ray Brown (2001)
Elvin Jones (2002)
Bebo Valdés (2003)
Shirley Horn and Fernando Trueba (2004)
Keith Jarrett and Charles Mingus (In Memoriam) (2005)
Herbie Hancock (2006)
Wayne Shorter (2007)

When America was having problems with its image during the cold war, the State Department decided to deploy its secret weapon: jazz musicians.

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