Depressing news…
So, the radio station isn’t even up and running yet and I hear wind of the fact that Congress has enacted new laws that would basically make it impossible for small webcasters like ourselves to stream Internet radio. I’m depressed about it. Maybe there is a way around it, but I’m not entirely hopeful.
As I tried to setup the SHOUTcast server, I started looking around for what kind of licensing one would need in order to play music over the Internet. Turns out that at least two entities hold the copyright to a piece of music you want to play. There is the entity that holds the copyright to the composition. Usually, that is the artist, but may also include ASCAP, BMI, and SECAP. So, you have to pay them. In many cases, I believe the artist can grant you a royalty-free license.
In addition to the license for the musical composition, you also need rights to the actual musical performance. Typically, this will involve a record label. Most record labels will not give you a royalty-free license. And before this March 1, 2007 ruling, one could buy a special license that I don’t really understand. Now, it seems as though the RIAA and its whipping boy, the SoundExchange, have convinced Congress to gouge small webcasters even more. Sigh.
So, the future of our station is now in limbo. Stay tuned and support independent streaming radio by checking out the blog Save Our Internet Radio.
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Tags: News, Webcasting.
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