*Guidance by Online Audience*
✅ How to Legally Stream Music Online: A Simple Guide to Licensing
You've set up your stream, chosen your Auto-DJ, and picked your music. The next step—and the most crucial for compliance—is licensing. If your online radio station is based in the UK and plays commercial music, you need legal coverage. Here is a simple breakdown of the required licences and how to get them.
🎶 Understanding the Two Types of Music Copyright
In the UK, when you play a commercial track, you are using two separate copyrights that are managed by two different organizations:
1. The Musical Work (The Song Itself) - Covered by PRS for Music
This covers the **composition**—the actual melody, lyrics, and sheet music. Royalties go to the songwriters, composers, and publishers.
- **What it covers:** The right to **perform or communicate** the work to the public.
- **The Licence You Need:** The **Limited Online Music Licence (LOML)** from **PRS for Music** (or the Internet Radio Licence, depending on your revenue/scale).
2. The Sound Recording (The Master Copy) - Covered by PPL
This covers the **physical recording** of the song—the master track you are playing on your stream. Royalties go to the performers and the record companies (or master rights holders).
- **What it covers:** The right to **play the actual recorded sound** to the public.
- **The Licence You Need:** The **Linear Webcast Licence** from **PPL**.
Important Note: If your online station broadcasts commercial music to UK listeners, **you typically need both a PRS licence and a PPL licence** for complete legal coverage.
📋 The UK Licence Process: PPL and PRS for Music
For most small to medium-sized internet radio stations operating in the UK, the licensing process involves direct applications to these two bodies:
Step 1: Obtain the PPL Linear Webcast Licence
This licence covers your use of the recorded music. Fees are typically based on the number of 'performances' (the number of tracks played to one listener is one performance) or your annual revenue/listeners.
PPL offers bands (Band 1, Band 2, etc.) based on listener metrics. Most new, smaller stations will fit into the lower, simpler bands.
Step 2: Obtain the PRS Limited Online Music Licence (LOML)
The LOML covers the compositions. This licence is usually structured with fees based on annual revenue thresholds and usage caps (e.g., maximum number of streams per year).
PRS also offers the **Internet Radio Licence** which is tailored specifically for non-DAB, non-terrestrial UK-only online broadcasters. You should review both options to see which best fits your station’s size and structure.
Licensing Outside the UK
If you plan to broadcast to listeners outside the UK (e.g., in the US, Canada, or Europe), you may need **additional licensing** from the equivalent performing rights organizations (PROs) in those territories (like ASCAP, BMI, and SoundExchange in the US). Some hosting providers (or services like Live365) offer packages that include international licensing, but for an independent station using standard hosting, you must ensure your licensing covers your intended geographic audience or use geo-blocking features to restrict listening.
💡 What if I Only Play Royalty-Free Music?
If your station strictly plays music that is **not subject to standard copyright** (e.g., production music, certain creative commons tracks, or music composed exclusively for your station), you may not need the PPL/PRS licences. However, you must be 100% certain of the origin and copyright status of every track you play.
The Three Golden Rules of Compliance:
- **Do Not Stream Personal Accounts:** You cannot use services like Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music for public radio broadcasting. Their terms of service limit usage to personal, non-commercial listening.
- **Always Report Usage:** Licensing bodies require you to submit reports (often generated by your Auto-DJ software) detailing the music you play so royalties can be accurately distributed.
- **Licence Before You Play:** Always obtain the necessary licences *before* launching your station with commercial music.
Launch Your Licensed Station with Confidence
We provide the rock-solid infrastructure (SHOUTcast or Icecast) required to run your radio station, complete with the logging tools you need for licence reporting. Focus on finding your audience; we’ll handle the stream quality.
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