• Why is Jewish Rock Radio revolutionary for both new and established Jewish artists?
• How does Jewish Rock Radio pay artists?
• What kind of music does JRR accept?
• Who decides what music is played on Jewish Rock Radio?
• How does an artist (established artist, new artist, or a cappella group) submit music to Jewish Rock Radio?
• After I submit my music, how long does it take for the JRR Youth Advisory Board to determine selection?
• Can I resubmit the same songs for consideration?
• How do I copyright my music?
• What is an ID3 Tag and how do I properly ID3 Tag my songs?
• Is JRR a JLicense licensee?
Why is Jewish Rock Radio revolutionary for both new and established Jewish artists?
In the secular and Christian worlds, fans are exposed to artists, their music, and their merchandise through mass communication channels such as television and radio, as well as extensive live concert tours by the artists. There are thousands of secular and Christian radio stations that expose and promote the careers of artists. There are also thousands of stores that distribute their merchandise (i.e. CDs, clothing, etc).
In the Jewish world, there are VERY few opportunities for Jewish artists to be exposed on television or radio to promote their music or merchandise or to develop demand among Jewish audiences for live performances. Jewish Rock Radio is the “missing link” in the Jewish world that provides a mass communication channel exposing and promoting Jewish artists. Jewish Rock Radio also goes a step further by creating featured new and established artist profiles on jewishrockradio.com so visitors can learn much more about the artist and find out where to buy the artist’s merchandise. This is a good thing!
Finally, Jewish Rock Radio is committed to supporting Jewish music distributors who sell Jewish music, educating the public about OySongs.com, Transcontinental, and other distributors who promote Jewish music.
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How does Jewish Rock Radio pay artists?
Jewish Rock Radio is fully committed to strictly adhere with all U.S. laws and regulations governing Internet radio broadcasts. All legal US-based radio stations pay music licensing fees to SoundExchange (for use of the recordings), as well as ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC (for public performance of the songs). These licenses facilitate paid, legal streaming of any music from these catalogs, limited by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”). Under the DMCA, webcasters are entitled to these licenses only if their playlists comply with certain requirements, called the “sound recording complement.” For example, songs cannot be available on-demand, and no more than four songs by an artist can be streamed on the same station within any three-hour period.
In the United States, SoundExchange is the Digital Performance Rights Organization that collects and distributes royalties on the behalf of sound recording copyright owners (typically record labels). For proper payment for the public performance of their recordings on Jewish Rock Radio or any other Internet radio station, record labels or independent artists should register with SoundExchange. The amount of dollars sound recording copyright owners recognize from streaming depends on how often the songs are played, and the number of people listening to each performance.
ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC are the Performance Rights Organization that collects and distributes royalties on the behalf of song copyright owners (i.e. writers and publishers). For proper payment for the public performance of their songs on Jewish Rock Radio or any other Internet radio station, song writers should register with one of these three major Performance Rights Organizations. Again, the amount of dollars song copyright owners recognize from streaming depends on how often the songs are played, and the number of people listening to each performance.
What kind of music does JRR accept?
Jewish Rock Radio accepts music submissions of all types and genres of Jewish music or music created by Jewish artists. JRR will not play music with anti-Semitic, racist, sexist, violent text, Christian, Christian-messianic, or from any faith community other than Judaism.
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Who decides what music is played on Jewish Rock Radio?
The JRR Youth Advisory Board (tweens and high school-aged youth) and the JRR Senior Youth Advisory Board (college-aged and post-college twenty-something) determine the selection of music played on Jewish Rock Radio. JRR utilizes a confidential online music jukebox to expose Youth Advisory Board members to a wide variety of Jewish music for their consideration. Through a blind survey process, JRR Youth Advisory board members report their selections, favorite Jewish artists, and offer a wide-range of feedback on a variety of topics surrounding Jewish Rock Radio. JRR also receives musical feedback and suggestions from a variety of sources through the www.jewishrockradio.com website request form and by word of mouth.
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How does an artist (established artist, new artist, or a cappella group) submit music to Jewish Rock Radio?
Please fill out the Artist Submission Form and your music will be presented to members of the JRR Youth Advisory Board for consideration. CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR MUSIC
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After I submit my music, how long does it take for the JRR Youth Advisory Board to determine selection?
There is a revolving music submission cycle, so there is no set amount of time for selection of the artists that will be broadcast on JRR. It could take days or months. Please free to check on the status of your music submission no less than 1 month after your initial submission by contacting us.
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Can I resubmit the same songs for consideration?
If the JRR Youth Advisory Board chooses to not broadcast the music from your initial submission, it is highly recommended that you review the JRR Youth Advisory Board ‘JRR Music Selection Standards’ and resubmit different music selections.
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How do I copyright my music?
A copyright is the sole legal right of the author of an original literary, visual, or audio work to use, license, or copy that work. Copyrights granted after January 1, 1978 last for the lifetime of the author plus an additional 70 years.
In the music industry, a songwriter or publisher can copyright a song (underlying work), and recording owners can copyright specific recordings of a song. Once you put your music into tangible form (i.e. sheet music or a recording), you technically have a legitimate copyright over that work. However, it is prudent to take additional steps to establish proof that you are the holder of that copyright in case of a dispute. Some people try the “poor man’s copyright” by putting the tangible work into a sealed envelope, mailing it to themselves, and leaving it sealed as proof. Should they find themselves in a dispute, this would be their only evidence.
To truly protect yourself, establish more substantive proof, obtain the backing of the US government, and potentially save yourself a lot of time and headaches, it is best to register your work with the US Copyright Office. Registering with the Copyright office is quick and easy and can be done online or through the mail. To learn more, visit copyright.gov. Keep in mind, it costs a minimum of $35, and though your copyright is registered the second it is received (and properly filled out), it may take anywhere from 10 weeks to 8 months to receive your copyright certificate. For further information regarding copyrights, you might also consider seeking professional counsel from an attorney specializing in copyright law or a general practice attorney with knowledge in basic copyright law.
- Registering online is quicker and cheaper than paper forms.
- You can register one copyright for a collection of songs (i.e. an album)
- If you want to copyright just the intellectual property (i.e. sheet music), use form PA. If you want to copyright just the specific recording of that intellectual property, or if you want to make one registration for both the recording and the intellectual property, use form SR. Please note that the copyright applicant must be the same for both the recording and intellectual property in order to complete one registration for both the recording and intellectual property.
What is an ID3 Tag and how do I properly tag my songs?
ID3 tags provide the Title, Artist, Year, Genre and other great information when you’re listening to music. ID3 tags are the audio file metadata standard for MP3 files in active use by software and hardware developers like iTunes, Windows Media Player, VLC, as well as countless hardware manufacturers.
There are a number of free and reliable ID3 tag editors available online. Check out Kid3 as a great example. You can even use iTunes to edit ID3 tags for MP3 files by selecting the song, then going to Edit > Get Info. Your changes will be written directly to the audio file metadata.
Is JRR a JLicense licensee?
Yes, JRR is a proud JLicense licensee! Check out jlicense.com for more information.