The UK's Podcasters Association, for there is such a thing, has announced an agreement with the Association Of Independent Music which will give members of the former preferential access to the podcast licence offered by the latter. It is hoped the deal will mean more podcasters will apply for an AIM licence, which allows them to legitimately use up to 30,000 recordings from AIM affiliated labels in their podcasts (providing they also have a similar PRS/MCPS licence, of course).
Confirming the new arrangement, AIM chief Alison Wenham told CMU: "AIM's licence allows full tracks to be used in podcasts, which is what consumers and podcasters want. In the UKPA, we have a partner who appreciates that music should be properly licensed. There are opportunities for the independent sector and the pioneers of podcasting to use a library of over 30,000 full length tracks from some of the premier independent companies and artists, to come up with imaginative programming and give the fans what they want".
Dean Whitbread of the UKPA added: "This is a step forward for the whole of music podcasting in the UK. It raises the bar for music podcast programme making. Working with the AIM licence is about being responsible with other people's creative work. UKPA upholds the principle of maintaining the value chain of music, and making sure that the rights of musicians and artists, and the industry which brings their music to us, are respected. Podcasting can make a real impact on music sales, but this has to be done in a responsible way. UKPA is committed to working with AIM and other organisations and businesses to develop legal music podcasting in the UK".