So if you’re planning on broadcasting commercial music in public spaces, you’ll need one (or more) of these licenses ( ASCAP, BMI, SESAC ). Public performances include broadcasts to public spaces, like restaurants or businesses, as well as broadcasts over the internet, TV, or radio. These are ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers), BMI (Broadcast Music Inc), SESAC (Society from European Stage Authors and Composers), and SoundExchange.ĪSCAP, BMI, and SESAC are Performance Rights Organizations (PRO’s) that collect and distribute royalties for ‘public performances’. There are four main licensing bodies that offer statutory licenses in the USA.
#Streaming music free online radio license
If you’re looking for a license to cover your online radio broadcasts in the USA, you’ll need to apply for a statutory license.
Instead, you obtain these licenses by paying an annual fee, which then covers your online broadcasts for the year.
These licenses do not require monthly fees or royalty calculations. If your income exceeds £200,000, you will require a Music Streaming License. If your income is above £12,500 but below £200,000, you will need a LOML+. You will need a LOML (Limited Online Music License) if you earn less than £12,500. There are a number of PRS licensing options available that will depend on your income. If you intend to run an online radio station that broadcasts commercial music in the UK, you’ll need both a PPL license and a PRS license for it to be legal. A PPL license will cover you for playing recorded music on your online radio station. It covers royalties for to record companies and the performing artists. It covers royalties for the authors and songwriters. There are two main licensing bodies to look out for in the UK, namely the PRS (Performing Rights Society) and PPL (Phonographic Performance Limited).Ī PRS license will cover you for public broadcast services like webcasting, podcasting, on-demand streaming, and general entertainment to a UK-based audience. It’s always smart to get into contact with your country’s respective licensing bodies to double-check the licensing requirements. Licensing requirements, terms, and conditions differ from country to country. But if you want a bumping station that plays all the latest, commercial tracks, you need to put stream licensing on your to-do list. If you plan on creating a talk-based internet radio station, with only royalty-free music, stream licensing might not be a requirement. If you only play music, jingles, and voice-overs that are royalty-free, you won’t need to pay for using these tunes. Not all online radio stations require licensing it all depends on what you plan on broadcasting and where you plan on broadcasting it. First thing’s first – do you need a license?īefore you drift off into a licensing frenzy, it’s probably a good idea to know if you need one. We can, however, provide the data our clients need to generate royalty reports for their stations. ** Spacial does not provide licensing, and royalty payments are not included in your subscription. This post is simply a starting point to make things easier for you. We highly recommend that you consult the relevant authorities and licensing bodies in your country.
So how do you ensure that everyone who needs to get paid is paid? We thought that it’s about time that we have a look at various licensing bodies for different countries.ĭisclaimer: * The following post is not meant to be taken as legal advice. Many online radio streaming providers do not offer stream licensing as a part of their service.
#Streaming music free online radio how to
If you have (or are thinking of starting) an online radio station, you’d probably like to know how to keep things legal. Stream Licensing for Internet Radio Stations