Equity Union In Landmark Podcast Deal

Actors who performed in an audio podcast of 70s cult sci fi show Blake's 7 will receive royalties following a landmark deal between union Equity and indie B7 Productions.

The agreement, said to be the first of its kind in the UK, provides for a royalty share on net revenues generated via podcast downloads, audio streaming online and subsequent CD release. The deal also provides for minimum session fees, rehearsals, overtime payments, holiday pay and assignment of rights.

The terms of the podcast agreement can be used as a minimum template for future agreements on any podcast productions. It will be sent to the Personal Managers' Association, the Association of Voice-over Agents and the Co-operative Personal Managers Association.

"Equity is responding to the new media environment," said Equity assistant general secretary Andy Prodger. "This is a significant agreement that will enable independent producers to capitalise on the burgeoning opportunities whilst providing a greater transparency in commercial dealings with performers to the mutual benefit of both parties.

The recording of the Blake's 7 podcast serial finished in December 2006 and is expected to be available online in April with a release on CD in June. - Rob Shepherd, Broadcast.

DRM "Not Fit For Fish"

"Almost two-thirds of music industry executives think removing digital locks from downloadable music would make more people buy the tracks, finds a survey. The Jupiter Research study looked at attitudes to Digital Rights Management (DRM) systems in Europe music firms.

Many of those responding said current DRM systems were "not fit for purpose" and got in the way of what consumers wanted to do. 54% of those executives questioned thought that current DRM systems were too restrictive. Also, 62% believed that dropping DRM and releasing music files that can be enjoyed on any MP3 player would boost the take-up of digital music generally." - BBC

New Sony Recorders: 375 Hours Continuous Audio

"Podcasters are likely to spontaneously combust when they set eyes on the newest digital voice recorders from Sony Japan. Also known as IC recorders, Sony’s models use proprietary compression technology for impressive quality, while allowing for extremely long recording times.

The newcomers are the ¥25,000 ICD-SX77, with 1GB of memory onboard, and the ¥20,000 ICD-SX67, which has half the storage space. As with previous IC recorders from Sony, these will be available outside Japan in a few months, albeit at around double the price.

Both machines use Sony’s own LPEC codec – an acronym for Long Term Predicted Excitation – allowing the 1GB model to squeeze in up to 375 hours of audio on the lowest setting. Even at top quality, it still manages over 17 hours. And we’ll conveniently ignore the fact that the juice in the rechargeable batteries will stretch only to around 24 hours.

Thankfully, the recorders can play back MP3 files as well as LPEC audio and software is included for editing LPEC recordings that allows data to be exported in the more universal MP3 format.

On the hardware front, the SX67 and 77 use the same three-microphone arrangement we’ve seen before from Sony to lay down full stereo recordings. A stand with a standard camera screw for attaching to a tripod is included to make it simple to position a recorder next to a musical instrument or performer. Perfect for bootleggers then."

- J Mark Lytle, digitalworldtokyo.com