Cliff Richard In Your Podcast, Madam?

A long campaign by the British music industry to extend the copyright period in sound recordings from 50 to 70 years has been rejected by the UK Government after the House of Commons Culture Committee's previous recommendation to the contrary, which means that very soon, it will be legal to include hits from the late 1950s in podcasts without paying royalties.

"Under current rules, performers can earn royalties for 50 years from the end of the year when a sound recording was made. In comparison, novelists, playwrights and composers enjoy copyright protection for their life and 70 years afterwards. The copyright protection for performers in the United States is 95 years from release and in Australia it is 70 years. The industry had called on the British government to lobby the European Commission to extend the term to at least 70 years." - Reuters.

"The UK is a world-beating source of great music, so it is frustrating that on the issue of copyright term the government has shown scant respect for British artists and the UK recording industry," John Kennedy, head of the IFPI body which represents the international recording industry, said in a statement.

"Some of the greatest works of British music will soon be taken away from the artists who performed them and the companies that invested in them."

The BPI, body representing 70% of the UK record business, will now take the case to Europe.

Read the full text of the decision here, which includes recommendations for new media.

Podcasting Grows Metrics

The internet has a new association with a new acronym, the ADM - Association for Downloadable Media.

Key players from many sides of the podcasting industry, including Apple Inc., BlogTalkRadio, Kiptronic, Wizzard Media/LibSyn, NPR, Nielsen Online, Personal Life Media, Inc., Podbridge, PodTech, PodShow, Podtrac, Porter Novelli, Rev3 and Vogele & Associates have taken on the task of standardising podcasting, along the lines of "related industry organizations, publishers and agencies such as the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and the American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA)."

Five initial committees will be formed immediately to address: advertising standards, measurement, outreach/education, terminology and membership. Membership application is now open on the ADM Web site at www.downloadablemedia.org.

Nominations for the executive seats, advisory board and committee chairs will take place this summer.

MCPS-PRS Get Copyright Rate Endorsement

The UK Copyright Tribunal has returned its decision in relation to the rate paid to songwriters and composers when their music is used in online music services.

The Tribunal has endorsed a settlement agreement negotiated in September 2006 between the Music Alliance - representing composers and songwriters - and the majority of the online music industry. The Tribunal concluded that this agreement, freely made between these parties, should be the basis for the template for online licensing in the future.

The Tribunal decision confirms that songwriters, composers and their publishers should receive 8% of gross revenues from online music service providers for on-demand services including downloads and subscription streaming services, 6.5% of revenues for interactive webcasting services and 5.75% for non-interactive webcasting. The concept of minimum royalties for all types of online use has been strongly confirmed, which was a key part of the Music Alliance’s case to protect its members’ rights and revenues.

Steve Porter, Chief Executive of the Music Alliance said: ‘This is a great result for music creators. We are happy that the Tribunal has endorsed our approach to the licensing of music used in online services.

‘The uncertainty has finally been removed and we have a template for the future that recognises and affirms the value of the creative process to the online music business.’

4Digital Group Wins UK Digital Radio Licence

Channel 4 have won their bid to broadcast 10 new national digital radio stations, the media regulator Ofcom has announced. A large amount of their output is destined for podcast. The new service will provide podcasts from at least nine providers, expected to include the Financial Times newspaper, Sky News, publisher EMAP, Virgin Radio, Walt Disney and the Carphone Warehouse, and include services specifically for mobile phones.

This is a major success for the terrestrial UK broadcaster which had staked a lot on winning the bid and moving into radio. Like the BBC, Channel 4 has a core public service remit, although unlike the BBC their revenue is derived from sponsorship and advertising.