Internet radio licensing
Encyclopedia
An Internet radio license is a specific type of broadcast license
that allows the licensee to operate an Internet radio station. The licensing authority and number of licenses required varies from country to country, with some countries requiring multiple to cover various areas of a station's operation, and other countries not having stringent licensing procedures in place. Licensing costs also vary, based on the number of listeners that a station has, as well as other factors such as the number of songs played, the number of broadcast hours, and whether tracks are dubbed
to a digital playout system
.
Licensing fees for Internet radio have often been the subject of controversy. For example, in 1998, the passing of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act
meant that US-based Internet radio and satellite radio
stations would have to pay separate royalties to recording artists and sound recording copyright owners, unlike traditional over-the-air stations that paid royalties only for the use of the underlying musical works. This led to the creation of the SaveNetRadio.org petition group, in addition to the proposal of the Internet Radio Equality Act
.
Stations which broadcast via other mediums -- for example, by the FM
and DAB digital radio
-- typically must also obtain a separate broadcast license in order to simultaneously broadcast via the Internet.
Stations playing solely unsigned band
s, or carrying speech content only, do not need to be licensed in most countries.
and Phonographic Performance Limited
. Although the former of these fees is largely fixed, the latter is calculated based on the number of tracks played per hour, in addition to the number of listeners (calculated via Internet radio audience measurement
). In addition to these two main licenses, stations must also pay the PPL dubbing fee in order to store tracks to a hard-drive or other storage device for playout, and the MCPS-PRS TV and Radio Advertisement License in order to use copyrighted music in advertisements and promotional pieces. The multitude of licenses required, and the accumulative cost of them all, have priced many small stations out of running sustainably via Internet mediums.
No Ofcom
Licence is required for Internet broadcasting.
Broadcast license
A broadcast license or broadcast license is a specific type of spectrum license that grants the licensee the privilege to use a portion of the radio frequency spectrum in a given geographical area for broadcasting purposes. The licenses are generally straddled with additional restrictions that...
that allows the licensee to operate an Internet radio station. The licensing authority and number of licenses required varies from country to country, with some countries requiring multiple to cover various areas of a station's operation, and other countries not having stringent licensing procedures in place. Licensing costs also vary, based on the number of listeners that a station has, as well as other factors such as the number of songs played, the number of broadcast hours, and whether tracks are dubbed
Dubbing (music)
In sound recording, dubbing is the transfer or copying of previously recorded audio material from one medium to another of the same or a different type. It may be done with a machine designed for this purpose, or by connecting two different machines: one to play back and one to record the signal...
to a digital playout system
Playout
In broadcasting, playout is a term for the transmission of radio or TV channels from the broadcaster into broadcast networks that delivers the content to the audience...
.
Licensing fees for Internet radio have often been the subject of controversy. For example, in 1998, the passing of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act
Digital Millennium Copyright Act
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act is a United States copyright law that implements two 1996 treaties of the World Intellectual Property Organization . It criminalizes production and dissemination of technology, devices, or services intended to circumvent measures that control access to...
meant that US-based Internet radio and satellite radio
Satellite radio
Satellite radio is an analogue or digital radio signal that is relayed through one or more satellites and thus can be received in a much wider geographical area than terrestrial FM radio stations...
stations would have to pay separate royalties to recording artists and sound recording copyright owners, unlike traditional over-the-air stations that paid royalties only for the use of the underlying musical works. This led to the creation of the SaveNetRadio.org petition group, in addition to the proposal of the Internet Radio Equality Act
Internet Radio Equality Act
The Internet Radio Equality Act, originally introduced as , is proposed legislation by Rep Jay Inslee WA to nullify the May 1, 2007, determination of the Copyright Royalty Board modifying the current webcast radio royalties and fees retroactively to January 1, 2006...
.
Stations which broadcast via other mediums -- for example, by the FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
and DAB digital radio
Digital audio broadcasting
Digital Audio Broadcasting is a digital radio technology for broadcasting radio stations, used in several countries, particularly in Europe. As of 2006, approximately 1,000 stations worldwide broadcast in the DAB format....
-- typically must also obtain a separate broadcast license in order to simultaneously broadcast via the Internet.
Stations playing solely unsigned band
Unsigned band
An unsigned band is a band that has not been signed to a record label. Bands that release their own material on self-published CDs can also be considered unsigned bands. Often unsigned bands primarily exist to perform at concerts....
s, or carrying speech content only, do not need to be licensed in most countries.
Netherlands
Internet radio licensing in the Netherlands is partially dealt with by the main Dutch royalty body BUMA-STEMRA, whom charge a fixed fee in order for a station to broadcast via the Internet.United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, Internet radio stations must obtain licenses from both the MCPS-PRS AllianceMCPS-PRS Alliance
The MCPS-PRS Alliance rebranded PRS for Music Jan 2009 - MCPS and PRS are the not-for-profit UK collecting societies that ensure composers, songwriters and publishers are paid royalties when their music is used: from live performance to TV and radio, CDs to DVDs, downloads, streams and everything...
and Phonographic Performance Limited
Phonographic Performance Limited
PPL is the London-based United Kingdom music licensing company which undertakes collective rights management of recorded music and music videos for public performance, broadcast and new media use...
. Although the former of these fees is largely fixed, the latter is calculated based on the number of tracks played per hour, in addition to the number of listeners (calculated via Internet radio audience measurement
Internet Radio Audience Measurement
Internet radio audience measurement is any method used to determine the number of people listening to an Internet radio broadcast. This information is usually obtained from the broadcaster's audio streaming server. Icecast, Nicecast, and SHOUTcast are examples of audio streaming servers that can...
). In addition to these two main licenses, stations must also pay the PPL dubbing fee in order to store tracks to a hard-drive or other storage device for playout, and the MCPS-PRS TV and Radio Advertisement License in order to use copyrighted music in advertisements and promotional pieces. The multitude of licenses required, and the accumulative cost of them all, have priced many small stations out of running sustainably via Internet mediums.
No Ofcom
Ofcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
Licence is required for Internet broadcasting.