U.K. indies deliver universal podcast license

December 5, 2005 —

Podcasting seems set to reach higher, with the launch of a global license that legitimizes music in such transmissions.

AIM Digital, the new media arm of the U.K.'s Association of Independent Music (AIM), Monday morning launched a global trial license for podcasting, enabling U.K. independent repertoire to be used in podcasts around the world.

The six month license lets signatories legally podcast a variety of U.K. independent repertoire. It meets a gnawing market need -- few podcasts are able to legally use released tracks.

A range of newly-available licenses have been developed, catering for conventional broadcasters and one-man shows. Podcasters will be able to use as many of the available tracks as they like, subject to certain usage restrictions. Labels can choose how much or how little repertoire to offer.

AIM CEO Alison Wenham said: "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 U.K. We believe there will be huge global demand for the AIM podcast license."

Macworld.co.uk