Copywrite fees?
I read one site that said that even Part 15 stations should pay copywrite fees to play music.
Is this true?
Has anyone on the list done so?
Has anyone on the list gotten into trouble for failing to pay copywrite fees?
How would you pay fees and are they fair when you may really not have any listeners (or very few?)?
I assume that people who use Part 15 devices to broadcast to themselves, say while doing yardwork, would not have to pay fees even though a neighbor may be able to receive the broadcast. So how can it be justified that a broadcaster using the same device must pay fees? Or are all Part 15 users subject to fees?
Todd
Thinking about a station in Boulder Colorado
DISCLAIMER: IANAL, so please, consult one if you are really interested in finding the truth behind it. In fact, before doing anything like this, I would contact a lawyer just to CYA. The EFF may also have something to say, which would be free.
Aparently, someone said that BMC want cash for songs broadcast from part15 stations. The reason is because these stations *can* charge for commercials and become profit-making.
The average yard-caster transmitter, bought for the purpose of listening to while doing yard work, around the house, etc. really only does reach the border of the average .25 acre yard. WHEN it is setup and used in the manner it was intended.
What I know for a fact:
I tried this with a belkin "mp3 caster". It only goes as far as my border if I set it up as instructions say.
I also run a Part 15 AM station that hits the whole town.
I have not seen the forms on the BMC, ASCAP, or SESAC sites.. and when I called and asked for them, I was told they had no idea WHAT I was babbling about, and that it was ludicris to even suggest such a thing given all of the yard casters and, BMC even pointed out, his Mercedes has a CD Changer that he had added by a 3rd party that used a part15 transmitter instead of being wired to his stereo. That until the FCC seperated the p15 yard/car casters from the p15 am radio stations, there is no way to enforce this without costing a lot of companies a lot of money, which would make them widely unpopular and probably regarded by everyone as a very bad move.
I paraphrased since I didn't tape the conversation (only paranoid weenies tape thier conversations, IMHO).
SO.. lets recap:
Kits: LEGAL.
Type Accepted: Legal. (Although, I have noticed something very interesting regarding the current for sale type accepted tx's.. wonder if anyone else has noticed...)
Pay for Play: Who the heck knows. If you feel like you are running a commercial station, and you are making money BECAUSE of the catalog you play, maybe you need to pony up a few coin to give the artists thier due.
Internet Broadcasting: Not P15 related, but comes up alot - you WILL have to pay for this one, but there are co-ops to make this easier and cheaper.
Amount Of Wood: My kid says 3.. (regarding the age old question of how much wood would a woodchuck blah blah blah)
I've been reading this post and the posts from Radio-Info... so here goes...
I have recieved my licenses from BMI, ASCAP, and SESAC...
The BMI license is $200.00yr from the time they grant you the license... The ASCAP license is $123.00 and it's for one year also... they say the LPFM license was the form to use.... the SESAC license is $85.00 and it's for one year... so I think these are reasonable fees...
The BMI license states that any station earning over $10,000yr in commercial fees must revert to a regular license.. which is $450.00yr +... depending on your earnings for the year... or how you decide to 'hide' the earnings....
I intend on making my station earn it's keep by having commercials so the advertisers must be protected from liability from using music on the air... the fines are pretty steep and I would consult an attorney before you attempt to air music outside the boundary of your yard...
This is my take on this and I feel that having the licenses helps to protect you from the big boys calling your station in to BMI, ASCAP, and SESAC.. which will get you into hot water....
Radiopilot