This week, the EU forced through a directive that would make Google, Facebook, Youtube etc pay every time a news item was shared on their sites, or a film, pop or tv video, video clip or trailer, or a recording that contained any music. The Directive was bought by the big music and news firms funding directly MEPs and certain EU initiatives, and has severe consequences for everyone not a large music publisher or news outlet.

HOW THIS AFFECTS YOU!!!!

The effect of this is devastating to small, independent news outlets and music publishers, who rely on portal sites to get their material out, as when Spain passed this law unilaterally, Google et al simply closed their portal sites so that they would not have to pay. Now, if you're thinking that this doesn't involve you, you are WRONG.

• Got a wedding video you want to post on Youtube or Facebook etc with the bride and groom doing their first dance to Bryan Adams? It is likely to be blocked because FB or Google would be charged for "publishing" the song. Same would be true of holidays, gigs, parties, christenings and so on.

• Want to "share" a news item about how evil the EU are? Can't cos Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc would have to pay the news agency you are sharing from.

• Want to share the movie trailer for Transformers 56? Can't, cos Google or FB or Youtube would have to pay.

• Want to listen to Iron Priest 7 on Playback? Nope, cos Mixcloud would have to pay for every song in the show.

And this is where it gets really evil. CFR PAYS to broadcast (unlike 99% of internet radio shows!!). We pay both the (proper) PPL and PRS licences (which ain't cheap!) each year, so we're okay to broadcast, and if we were our own ISP we could host the shows ourselves and be fine. But we can't afford to be our own ISP so this directive would force Mixcloud (who store our shows) and WIX (who host our site) to pay up. In other words, the publishers get paid TWICE. So it is very likely these services will cease to be provided by Wix and Mixcloud and their competitors.

It also makes it unlikely that we will be able to do our Videos of the Week and Newsletter about rock music and associated events.

WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT!?!

The Directive doesn't become law until next year- but only a few months away. So get outraged. Complain to your MEPs, whenever you see a campaign online to raise signatures, PLEASE SIGN THEM STRAIGHT AWAY. Complain to your local MP as well and get this directive (which the EU tried to sneak through without publicity) raised in the Houses of Parliament. In other words MAKE A NOISE!!! and get this evil, unfair, greedy law amended (sadly it cannot be revoked!!!!) so that it doesn't force small independent publishers out of business, and affect OUR ability to offer a range of services and grow the station.

Thank you.