Independent musicians fear prioritized Internet

WASHINGTON — Sensing a revolution in the way Internet traffic is managed, rock and roll musicians find themselves in the unusual position of defending the status quo.

Independent, lesser-known musicians and smaller record labels have launched a nationwide campaign Tuesday to support the idea that all Internet traffic should be treated equally, which they said is under fire from Internet providers who want to charge a fee to have some Web sites load faster than others.

The Rock the Net campaign, made up mostly of musicians who are on smaller record labels or none at all, said they are fearful that if the so-called “Net neutrality” principle is abandoned their music may not be heard because they don’t have the financial means to pay for preferential treatment.

Some said they don’t want to pay. The Web, they said, has allowed many unknown musicians to put their music online, giving fans instant access to new music and giving bands greater marketing capabilities.

“It could be a pretty sad world where money alone buys the ears and anybody that can’t afford it, can’t get proper placement, is pushed off to the ghettos,” said Derek Sivers, owner of CD Baby, an online store that sells compact discs by independent musicians.

The group is the latest to get involved in the Net neutrality issue.

SavetheInternet.com is a coalition of more than 800 groups — ranging from liberal political groups, such as MoveOn.org, to conservative groups, such as the Christian Coalition of America — that support the issue.