AIM Digital, the new media arm of the UK’s Association of Independent Music (AIM), today launched a global trial licence for podcasting, enabling UK independent repertoire to be used in podcasts around the world. The Association of Independent Music is a non-profit-making trade organisation for independent
record companies and distributors in the UK. AIM represents 25% of the UK market, with over 850 members of all sizes and musical genres.

The six month licence will provide a means for broadcasters of every stripe, whether traditional or bedroom-based, to legally podcast a variety of UK independent repertoire. It will enable UK independent labels to make their repertoire available for international podcasting.

The AIM licence will help by allowing podcasters from around the world to feature a wide array of copyrighted music.

A range of licences are available to suit every type of podcaster from
conventional broadcasters to one-man shows, and will enable podcasters to use as many of the available tracks they want, subject to certain useage restrictions (see below). Independent labels can choose how much or how little repertoire to offer, from a single track to their entire catalogue.

Independent label adoption of the new licence is expected to be widespread, and the full list of repertoire on offer will be made available on the AIM website(www.musicindie.com) as labels sign up.
Alison Wenham, AIM’s Chairman and Chief Executive commented, ‘Music from
AIM’s member labels will now be available to podcasters without the fear of operating illegally. In the absence of an industry wide scheme, AIM has moved to fill the current void, and has created attractive licensing conditions for the use of music from the independent sector of the UK. We believe there will be huge global demand for the AIM podcast licence’.
Simon Wheeler, Director of Digital at Beggars Group, and Chairman of AIM’s
New Media Committee said, ‘Podcasting has seen explosive growth over the last few months and, with no industry standard licences in place, AIM has once again stepped up to the plate to ensure that UK independent music can access this channel on a licensed basis. It is vital that we embrace new channels of distribution and this is another important step forward by the most creative sector of the UK music industry’

Commented Martin Goldschmidt, MD of Cooking Vinyl, whose artists include
Richard Thompson, Buzzcocks, Billy Bragg “I see podcasting and subscription services as playing a big role in where the music consumer wants to go. It’s great to see the independent community embracing and supporting this, as opposed to the Sony/BMG “own goal” approach.”

Further information:

The Licence
AIM will make available, on a temporary, non-precedential basis, non-exclusive licenses to podcast repertoire owned or controlled by AIM members. The availability of repertoire will be at each AIM member’s absolute election. The commercial terms are confidential but will be tiered according to the nature of the podcaster, involving a fixed fee, plus for commercial broadcasters a formula based on a percentage of revenue.

The podcaster will be responsible for all monies due in respect of the use of the underlying musical compositions.

Operating Conditions
There is a set of rules regarding what is, and is not, acceptable in a podcast, the point being that AIM does not want to create a mechanism to enable the creation of free or ultra-cheap compilation albums.
These include talking over or providing station ID for at least ten seconds at the beginning and end of each track and delivering podcasts only in their entirety Also, the podcaster will be required to provide a range of usage information back to AIM, including total number of downloads of each podcast, details of repertoire used and the price, if any, at which any podcasts are sold.

How will it work in practice?
Labels will advise AIM of podcastable content by label, by artist, or by track, at labels discretion. AIM will maintain a list of podcastable content on the AIM website at www.musicindie.com Podcasters, once licensed will be required to refer to the website to ensure the music they use falls under the scheme.

What is the territory?
Podcasts are made available to the world without restriction.

How will labels get paid?
Monies will be passed back to participating labels in proportion to the usage reported by podcasters received, minus the minimal cost of administering the scheme.