With major record labels failing to get their act together when it comes to drafting up licensing agreements for Podcasting of "mainstream" music, Podcasters have been forced to go with different channels that help promote Indie/Unsigned musicians (such as the PodSafe Music Network). These record labels have in essence provided a HUGE injection of distribution for music they don't represent.It's a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecey. Record labels are so hung up on people pirating music from Podcasts, for fear of losing their precious sales, that they've driven away all the exposure to lesser known (and more flexible) sources. Unfortunately for them, they're allowing very EASY exposure to their competition, and in essence losing precious sales.
The issue they seem hung up on is that since Podcasts are individual downloads - EACH episode would require a license agreemenet - whereas streaming music and radio can get a single blanket agreement. Lame.
It's not just "Indie" Podcasts that have gone the Podsafe Music route, it's also radio stations that have gone with Podcasting (like the beloved KCRW). Geez, talk about missing the boat.
1. Well, I have not been shopping music in the last years at all. Partly because I had to pay more money for a cd than decades ago (okay, 1.5 decades ago) on a lp.
Frankly, the newer content was not worth it. Now, with podcasting, I do discover new music - which I like. And which is worth visiting the website and putting some money in the tipjar. Also, doing a local radio show in a community radio, I want to put the show online afterwards - which I can't because of licencing issues.
With podsafe music, I am good to go. I myself do not use music in my podcast, but as intro and outro - I have had at least 15 people mailing me about that sond which I happily forwarded to the band.
Now, I get even more used to buy online and donate online, as record labels try to tell me how I should be allowed to use the music I have bought - yeah right.
I don't want a cd, I want them on my hard disk. And I want them in several other places and I will not pay severall times for it and I will not pay per use. My local copyright laws allow me this, but only if the cd is not protected.
Which makes my buying process very easy. Has copyprotection? No need to buy. Not even online.
Posted at 8:59PM on Aug 4th 2005 by Nicole Simon