Talk:Playlist

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[edit] discjocking obsolote?

wow, this strikes me a bit - discjocking is most definitely not obsolete... maybe in terms of just some more or less intelligent playlist generation, but discjocking is a bit more then that. or did i miss any recent software that automatically reacts to i.e. the crowds reaction to the choice of music in a club? ;) --wizzar 01:14, 16 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] radio playlists

I would love to see a brief discussion of how today's commercial and non-profit radio playlists are set. I actually came to the page hoping to learn, because I have a long-term goal of setting up a radio station, and have heard quite a few statements -- without any explanation at all -- as to strange limitations placed by unnamed persons and/or agencies upon playlists of many radio stations.
Jonathan E. Brickman 16:55, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

I think playlist selection problems are probably caused by licensing issues. ASCAP (website) provides a license for pretty much all music, but possibly sets restrictions on it. This is just one license for any music, so shouldn't be a problem (prices are calculated from the number of listeners, and start at about $300/yr).

In case you're interested, there's a Podcasting Legal Guide which covers some of legal issues, which is issued by the Creative Commons. (Or you could just move to Russia and bypass all these problems ;-)

From a technical viewpoint, so long as you have an MP3 or CD, you should be able to broadcast it on the web (so long as you've got the bandwidth). I don't know too much about the software setup you'd need, presumably some kind of web server (most Linux distros can do this) together with some kind of streaming software. You could get VLC Media Player (website) to do this (Linux/VLC are both totally free), but there are probably more specialized programs which are easier to get set up with.

On a side note Magnatune (website) allows totally non-commercial broadcasting/podcasting of their music for free (info), and are generally quite cool, you might like to check them out. Also, if you haven't already done so, take a look at the forums at shoutcast.com, as that's probably a gold mine for this sort of information.

Hope this helps a bit, if not, shout at me until I make sense! --H2g2bob 02:41, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

Now it might be very different in UK! I don't know. But I have been told repeatedly that if a person who wrote a given song records it himself/herself, and gives that recording to a U.S. airwave radio station with full written permission, that radio station cannot simply play it. Rather, I have been told that the radio station has to consult more than one authority, including the FCC, before they can play it -- that the FCC actually keeps lists of acceptable recordings, and that no radio station may step outside of its legally designated genre. My problem is, I have been entirely unable to either confirm or deny any of this from first sources: I have asked this question of more than one non-profit radio DJ, and they have always dodged the question, and not given me a simple, coherent, and complete answer, and referred me to the owners of the station, while advising me that they weren't going to tell me anything, either!

In other words, I have been told that there are very strict and frankly bizarre rules for U.S. airwave radio stations, which do not apply to such things as streaming audio and satellite radio...but I have been able to find no primary source, person actually in the industry and submitting to whatever rules really exist every day, willing to talk about it! And that is as noteworthy a situation as I can imagine.

Jonathan E. Brickman 17:02, 22 June 2006 (UTC)

Hello, I was focusing on webcasting, as it's a bit easier - as for the radio stations not giving a streight answer, well they probably don't know either ;)

I know the FCC can fine you (a lot) for swearing over the airwaves (though they need a complaint from a listener to actually do anything about it). The FCC also charge you for use of the airwaves. As the FCC's the main authority that deals with this, you might just want to email them (if you haven't already) - after all, the worst they can do is ignore you.

Unfortunately, I'm not all that knowledgeable about broadcasting over the airwaves, so you might like to ask this at Radio station where you might get a better response. --H2g2bob 18:03, 22 June 2006 (UTC)

The FCC does not pre-approve songs played on the airwaves as that would be a violation of our free speech rights in our constitution if they did this. There are rules that restrict and prohibit indecent and obscene content on the airwaves and one can be fined if one these restrictions and prohibitions. Thus in general, if you wrote and recorded a non-indecent or obscene song completely on your own you and wanted to play it on the radio then it's perfectly legal to do so (unlerss you sold the rights to some other party) provided you can find a station willing to play it. --Cab88 09:02, 5 February 2007 (UTC)