Newsweb Radio Company's 9 FM, which trimulcasts on WDEK, WKIE and WRZA in Chicago, has decided to ban CD prize giveaways as an act of protest against the recent royalty rate hike for online music streaming.

"When I read that the RIAA and SoundExchange needed money so badly that they were going to price gouge independent Web streamers and radio stations who stream online, I knew we had to do our part," said Matt DuBiel, Director of Programming for 9 FM. "In the face of the RIAA's struggles, it just doesn't seem fair for us to be giving away CDs (for free) to music fans fully capable of paying for the music themselves. We're inviting everyone who has won a CD from 9 FM or any other radio station in Chicago this year, to return it to us and we'll exchange it for a 9 FM t-shirt and give the CDs back to the RIAA. Radio stations need to be able to stream online affordably."

9 FM also has been airing public service-style announcements encouraging listeners to voice their concerns over the Copyright Royalty Board's rate hike ruling by signing a petition posted on 9 FM's Web site: WePlayAnything.com.