Using commercial music within a podcast is currently an unlicenced area for radio broadcasters, making the practice illegal. However a report today suggets PPL may allow up to 30 seconds of music to be included, but will cost the commercial radio industry over £200,000 a year in royalties.
MediaGuardian.co.uk said they have seen minutes from a RadioCentre meeting on October 5th 2006 which details the costs and proposals. They include paying MCPS and PRS around £100,000 each to use music, which would be in the form of a one year blanket licence enabling Radio Centre members to offer podcasts containing 30 seconds of music tracks, excluding voiceover.
The report also suggests speech stations will pay less than music stations.
–
[link=https://radiotoday.co.uk]The latest from RadioToday.co.uk[/link] Story? radionews@tmssvr.co.uk or call 0871 315 6 315