Nonregistered Radio Stations
Lala Madness News Industry Chatter and Artist Development
What If I was a DRT Radio Station and Couldn't Pay Artist Royalties?
In the world of the entertainment industry, we will cover topics such as artist development, industry tips and more. Lala Madness News is well versed in the entertainment industry since 2003 and have consulted with many major and indie artists and labels.
In Nov 2023 I dropped a video a year in advance of what would happen in the radio industry. I was told by many to be quiet because what I am saying is not going to happen for another year. I took a select group of people and prepared them for the coming transition in the entertainment industry. Besides it being an all out war between the labels and indie artist due to the purchase of bots and the payola getting out of control. Artist generally use radio to promote their projects. There is a big difference putting your music in rotation on a #Mediabase registered radio station versus a #drt radio station.
In my blog I address the difference and DRT (Digital Radio Tracker) is not a radio station they are a radio tracker for registered and nonregistered stations and podcasts. The artist generally go to their PRO (BMI or ASCAP) looking for a payment from radio airplay that won't be there because your PRO handles Performance Royalties and not Mechanical Royalties. Which in turn would mean the nonregistered station would owe the artist according to the bill signed a few years ago.
Lala Madness News asks about DRT Registered Stations and Royalties
This added the pressure to the DJs and the club or venue owner of who will be responsible for tracking and paying the artist for music in rotation in the club. This is why you see the DJs using Serato or Tidal because it tracks and pays the artist performance royalties. This lines up with the nonregistered venues as well who don't report the music played so they would be responsible for paying the artist which is why they are getting pulled up on by the PROs who cant pay the artist. What if the whole time the artist claiming their royalties through their PRO didnt know their PRO may have been compiling a list of the venues who are not reporting? Oh, the rabbit hole goes deep.
DRT About stating they are not a radio station, but a radio tracker
About DRT – DigitalRadioTracker.com
Rough example - If you have a DRT report stating you have 10 stations with 1,000 spins then only about 4 stations or 400 spins will be counted or be registered stations that will pay the artist. Which in turn would leave the radio station responsible for paying the artist just like the nonregistered venues.
It is a known fact that everything on the indie level is the exact opposite on the label level. Unless the artist have proper consulting they will be running in circles. The end result is if the station is not registered with Mediabase the artist may not receive payment, but the kicker is that many artists don't register with The MLC who handles your MECHANICAL ROYALTIES. When you hear about artist registration they never say to register for The MLC because that where your real money is. Why pay for radio packages from DRT if they are not all verified or the artist is not registered at the place that pays mechanical royalties. The math ain't mathing. Put your thinking cap on.
TIPS
1) When purchasing radio packages for your music project you need to make sure the station is registered with Mediabase or equivalent for proper tracking and payment.
MediaBase Links
https://www2.mediabase.com/mbapp/Account/Login
2) Make sure your music is properly encoded for release.
3) Make sure you are registered with The MLC to collect your mechanical or radio station royalties.
Check out my blog for more information on Artist Development and Entertainment Industry topics.
https://www.lalasmusicmedia.com/blog
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