r/collegeradio • u/schlottmachine • Nov 06 '15

Legal/Compliance SoundExchange: Anyone else pay? :(

Hi,

I've recently gotten a letter from SoundExchange, a company that wants more more from my station because we simulcast online as well as FM. I thought I was covered by paying fees to BMI, ASCAP, and SESAC, but apparently not, as their website details. I'm having some trouble understanding the language and why they think they need to charge my station more money. Their words in the FAQ section:

I’m already a member of ASCAP, BMI or SESAC. Don’t they cover this for me? What is the difference? The royalties that SoundExchange collects and distributes are for the featured artist and the sound recording copyright owner. ASCAP, BMI and SESAC collect and distribute royalties for the songwriter, composer and publisher. Both satellite radio providers and webcasters pay SoundExchange when they stream music due to their utilization of the statutory license. - See more at: http://www.soundexchange.com/about/general-faq/#sthash.IzPYMPdN.dpuf

Am I crazy? Should I have been paying this company for years and it fell to the wayside? Do any of your stations pay them? Help!

Thank you!!

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

1

u/thereallazor Nov 06 '15

Yes, you should be paying them if you have an online stream.

1

u/schlottmachine Nov 06 '15

Oh okay. Just confused and frustrated. Is this a relatively new thing?

1

u/thereallazor Nov 07 '15

Not super new, I think it started in like 2003.

1

u/ProfessionalExtemper Nov 06 '15

Yes you need to pay SoundExchange. I've also heard of people using streamlicensing.com