"Non-royalty" radio

[RadioCat]

Wondering what your thoughts are on this topic:

BMI will soon require radio stations to disclose their gross annual revenue, and from that number, BMI will charge a percentage as the royalty payments.

For an independent radio station, that information is private and proprietary. What are your thoughts about a radio station dumping their membership from BMI, ASCAP & SESAC? When music is played, the music of local & regional artists who do not have any affiliation with the three companies would be aired.

Have other radio stations dumped the three royalty companies?

 

[TheBigA]

For an independent radio station, that information is private and proprietary.

Do you disclose it to the government? Then you disclose it to a licensing agency. It won't become public. Think of BMI as a bank. The Radio Music License Committee just negotiated this new deal with BMI, and over 10,000 radio stations will be disclosing their revenues to BMI. It will be done electronically and securely. If you have a complaint, take it to RMLC.

 

[Kent]

Have other radio stations dumped the three royalty companies?

The only stations I know of that don't pay licensing fees are some classical stations and a handful that only play music in the public domain. Classical stations have few to zero to pay in licensing fees because most of the music is so old it's no longer covered under copyright law.

 

[RadioCat]

Thanks for the replies.

So, why would an AM talk radio station have to pay these fees? Are there talk radio stations who do not pay these fees? ~Thanks

 

[Kent]

So, why would an AM talk radio station have to pay these fees? Are there talk radio stations who do not pay these fees? ~Thanks

Talk stations pay these fees because they run bumper music and music beds that often consist of copyrighted material. I've been told it's possible to run a talk format without paying licensing fees, but adding the bumper music makes a far better product. Also, paying the licensing fees, which are significantly lower for talk stations, acts as insurance. You can be sued for far more money than your licensing fees if an inexperienced board-op plays a song over-the-air either as filler without understanding the rules or by not realizing the "program" channel on the board is on while enjoying that song from the FM sister station in audition!