Internet Radio Licencing

[Moh]

Well since a lot of UK fansites have been contacted about this, I guess its best to make plans in case USA do the same thing.

I have been researching about this, and I could only find out information about the law and licensing within the UK.

So does anyone know anything about this law and licence in USA?

Edit by Robbie! (Forum Moderator) - Moved to Online Radios, please post in the correct section next time, thanks.

[RyanDOT]

I remember Hayd was talking about this before, just look through the threads in this section!

[Hayd93]

hey,

Im not accually to to sure on the laws in the USA. The UK laws for internet broadcasting i am also not 100% about but i have a fair idea of what it is ect.

[iUnknown]

You'll have to get a license from PPL UK even if you're not broadcasting from the UK. If you're broadcasting TO the UK, I believe you still need this license.

[Tim.]

1 thing, you are never going to be safe purchasing a license, infact its just going to put you up for surveilance by licensing regs & firms.

This is because your not paying royalties for the music which you play, which means BIG Trouble if you get caught, and well obviously buying a license will mean they'll know your operating, so will infact check up on you to make sure everything if above board, and when they find out your not paying royalties, well you are in crap.

[Hayd93]

1 thing, you are never going to be safe purchasing a license, infact its just going to put you up for surveilance by licensing regs & firms.

This is because your not paying royalties for the music which you play, which means BIG Trouble if you get caught, and well obviously buying a license will mean they'll know your operating, so will infact check up on you to make sure everything if above board, and when they find out your not paying royalties, well you are in crap.

Ye was about to say this. If fansites think that this is a hefty bill wait untill music royalties start getting onto this.

[iUnknown]

If I'm correct, a lot of what you have to pay for the license is a deposit towards royalties...

[Moh]

f you are broadcasting over the internet without any form of licensing, it is not illegal. Unlike standard radio (going via FM/AM or DAB) you do not need a 'license' to broadcast, to own that wavelength on an AM/FM band so to speak. That is the beauty of the internet, no one 'owns' it and therefore it is yours to use how you like, there is no limit to the number of streams you can run. However, if the content of your stream includes any copyrighted material - you are at risk and may be breaking the law if you do not hold the permission of the copyright holder - which for most commercial music is the record label or the artist themselves.
Music licensing is available for individuals and organizations looking to stream copyrighted material online legally. A single fee is usually paid to the licensing body, which in turn is then fairly distributed to the copyright holders.
The following links to music licensing bodies may be of help:
USA: 3rd Party 'umbrella' Licenses for web broadcasting:
www.loudcity.net
www.swcast.com
www.bmi.com
www.ascap.com
www.soundexchange.com
UK:
www.ppluk.com
PPL - the UK broadcast royalties collection society
www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk
The MCPS-PRS Alliance
Germany:
www.gema.de
www.gvl.de
France:
www.sacem.fr
Netherlands:
www.bumastemra.nl


So by that, we just need to pay for streaming copyrighted music?

[Hayd93]

f you are broadcasting over the internet without any form of licensing, it is not illegal. Unlike standard radio (going via FM/AM or DAB) you do not need a 'license' to broadcast, to own that wavelength on an AM/FM band so to speak. That is the beauty of the internet, no one 'owns' it and therefore it is yours to use how you like, there is no limit to the number of streams you can run. However, if the content of your stream includes any copyrighted material - you are at risk and may be breaking the law if you do not hold the permission of the copyright holder - which for most commercial music is the record label or the artist themselves.
Music licensing is available for individuals and organizations looking to stream copyrighted material online legally. A single fee is usually paid to the licensing body, which in turn is then fairly distributed to the copyright holders.
The following links to music licensing bodies may be of help:
USA: 3rd Party 'umbrella' Licenses for web broadcasting:
www.loudcity.net
www.swcast.com
www.bmi.com
www.ascap.com
www.soundexchange.com
UK:
www.ppluk.com
PPL - the UK broadcast royalties collection society
www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk
The MCPS-PRS Alliance
Germany:
www.gema.de
www.gvl.de
France:
www.sacem.fr
Netherlands:
www.bumastemra.nl


So by that, we just need to pay for streaming copyrighted music?

Ye,

Paying for a music royalties license.

[Moh]

Ye,

Paying for a music royalties license.

So how do they work?

I presume its by how many listeners you get (peak and offpeak) and how many hours your broadcasting?