Podcasting and Community Broadcasting

Author: CBOnline | Source: CBOnline | Date: 14-07-05

Australian community broadcasters are always interested in finding new ways to serve their communities of interest, and provide programming that meets their needs. Podcasting gives community broadcasters the opportunity to make programs available to listeners who can't always tune in when they want - subscribing to a podcast is like setting your video recorder for your favourite show so you don't miss it.

The launch of the latest version of Apple's iTunes software, with native support for podcasting, has made this new form of delivering and accessing audio content easier than ever before.

Tech Specs

From a simple technical perspective, a podcast is an MP3 audio file automatically downloaded by your computer. Podcasting differs from simply offering MP3s online, because once a user is subscribed, the MP3s are delivered automatically to their computer - there's no need to remember to check a site each week. Remember that you don't need an iPod to listen to a podcast. Once the audio is downloaded, you can listen to it from your computer, or transfer it to a portable device to listen to.

There are numerous technical resources available for community radio stations who want to start podcasting. To start publishing a podcast you need an MP3 of your program, somewhere to store it online and an RSS feed for listeners to subscribe to. This tutorial from Podcastingnews.com is a step by step guide to creating this RSS feed using the free tools Blogger and Feedburner.

The Copyright Issue

Of course podcasts may include copyright material - for example, music. The licence that your station has with APRA/AMCOS (even if you have an online simulcast licence) does not cover podcasts that contain music (irrespective of whether the music is featured or background). APRA/AMCOS' Podcast Policy is available to download as a PDF at the end of this article - you will note that while APRA is able to offer a licence for the communication right, AMCOS will not offer a licence for the reproduction (the download) where the podcast is not protected by DRM (Digital Rights Management). Clearances for reproductions must be obtained directly from the copyright owners in the music. APRA/AMCOS has separately advised the CBAA that because podcasting is a developing technology, this policy may be subject to change in the future. As with a station's licensing obligations for the broadcast of music, there will be additional music clearance issues for use of the separate rights in the sound recording. In this regard, the licence that stations have from the PPCA does not relate to podcasting and gives stations no rights other than to broadcast music. Stations must also address this issue when discussing a podcast agreement directly with the copyright owners.

A recent article in The Australian newspaper discusses music licensing issues regarding podcasts, and it may be that your station decides that at present the safest course of action is to avoid using copyrighted music/sound recordings in podcasts.

What To Podcast?

A news, discussion or interview program dealing with community issues would be a great candidate for a podcast.

You're entitled to publish a music podcast if the copyright holder for the music you're including has allowed you to do so. If you're interested in a podcasting a program consisting of demos of local musicians or live performances it should be easy for you to contact the copyright holder. Unfortunately, due to the complicated nature of copyright, exactly what form the agreement with them would take is not something that CBOnline can provide. Note however that if the writer of the music is an APRA member, then you will still require a licence from APRA.

There are also numerous resources available online where the copyright holders have agreed in advance to make music available. This is often under the terms of a Creative Commons licence. The author of a piece of music that is presented under a Creative Commons licence has agreed in advance for their work to be used by others, but may restrict usage of the work to non-commercial purposes, or may specify that they require attribution. There are numerous options available. You may even wish to make the podcast you create available under a Creative Commons licence. Creativecommons.org.au can provide information on this for you.

The following resources can be used to source Creative Commons licensed music:

Podcast Do's and Dont's

What you can publish as a podcast:


  • A news/talk/current affairs program with no music
  • A magazine program with music breaks edited out
  • A music program, where the owners of the copyright have allowed you to make it available in podcast form

What you can't publish as a podcast:


  • A program containing material where the copyright owner hasn't agreed with you to make it available in podcast form.