Washington - SoundExchange, the music industry entity that collects and distributes digital royalties, announced yesterday that 24 small webcasters have signed an agreement that would extend the "below-market" music royalty rates they have received since 1998 through the year 2010.

Washington - SoundExchange, the entity set up by the record labels to collect and distribute digital music royalties, announced on Wednesday that it has offered small webcasters a discounted rate through 2010, under essentially the same terms set out in the Small Webcaster Settlement Act.