Author: Jay Goldberg
For awhile now I have been trying to get my head around the legality of distributing syndicated shows. While I couldn't pin anyone down I have reached some conclusions after talking to numerous sources. I believe I can distribute syndicated shows. The logic?
- I can have people who do not work for my station do shows on my legal, DMCA-compliant Live365 radio station and allow them to use their own music as long as they obtained that music following DMCA rules (e.g. the station doesn't have to own those songs).
- That show can be live or prerecorded.
That means I can distribute prerecorded shows to other stations as long as:
- They are legal stations that pay artist royalties, which includes all Live365 stations.
- I provide a cue sheet with individual track information with the mp3 of the show.
- The station receiving the syndicated show has the ability to report the individual track information for royalty purposes (which includes Live365's MultiTrack process).
- The stations only play the show as sent to them and do not break out the individual tracks since I am not in a legal position to distribute those tracks individually for station ownership. (Of course if a station has or later obtains any of the individual tracks in the show following DMCA rules, of course they can play them individually.)
I am not an attorney, or even a radio industry expert, so I am not a source for others to use in terms of getting permission, or even to use as proof positive that this is allowed. However, if the statements in both paragraphs above are correct you can reach your own conclusions, like I did.
So, I am now contemplating two different projects for this summer, one involves me offering syndicated shows. Next month I'll have a survey for stations to fill out so that if I decide to go in that direction I can get an idea of how stations would like to see syndicated shows structured.
Now onto the music.
This month I will present a mini alternative rock family tree. The three artists mentioned all have excellent music. The “base” artist is Paloalto. Below are three of my favorite songs of theirs:
Breathe In
Fade Out/In
Some Things Must Go This Way
After the band disbanded, lead singer James Grundler formed the band Golden State.
All Roads Lead Home
Heaven
Bombs
I have also added songs from Paloalto's former lead guitarist Andy Blunda, who performs as Blunda, to my station.
Lost Without You
Open
Fall
All "The Music Scout (Alternative)" content rights reside with the author.
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Article Image: The text "The Music Scout" with the white Live365 logo underneath, next to an animated person with headphones.
