What do we do with content that we want to Podcast?
This question came up after a conference session I attended. Basically, the issue was how does one manage the content provided on public radio. Why not podcast it ? The problem apparently lies with the RIAA and that they will want money for things like the backing music. Each time this is played the artist in question has to be paid.
So if one puts podcasts of NPR broadcasts on the Web one has a problem with the payment model. On one hand, one could dramatically expand the coverage/exposure of a particular topic using viral marketing (podcasting). On the other, you would have a hard time figuring out how many people had listened to the podcast (and thus how much to pay the artist).
So we are restricted (in general) to podcasts without music. Which means that much of what NPR broadcasts cannot be podcast. (Nb. the BBC has one show podcast so far and that is a sports talk segment.)
One wonders what this means for the professional radio industry. Will they be left behind as a host of people start recording and distributing their own podcasts because of the scarcity of professional recordings?
What happens when the first fan records a podcast of Lord of the Rings or the new Harry Potter book and puts it out on the Web. Is that a clear violation of copyright?
Posted by artandscience at March 14, 2005 11:33 PM