Digital DJ Licence

[DJGAVT 0]

This just came to me on email:

 

After 8 months of intensive research and preparation, we can proudly announce that the PPL Digital DJ Licence is now available to purchase at our new sister website, www.digitaldj.co.uk

The PPL Digital DJ Licence allows DJs to transfer up to 20,000 tracks onto a computer or MP3 device to play out in clubs, pubs and other venues. In addition, the Licence entitles DJs to keep a back-up of all digital copies on a separate database or hard drive. With more and more leading DJ equipment manufacturers releasing MP3 based hardware, there is now a legal and sensible route available to fully embrace the ever changing industry climate. The licence will be available to buy at digitaldj.co.uk.

 

Mastermix will provide the 12 month licence acting as agents to PPL (the Phonographic Performance Limited). DJs will be able to purchase the Mastermix Digital DJ Membership for £250 plus VAT which in addition to the PPL Digital DJ Licence will include a 12 month access to the first community based website solely dedicated to Digital DJs. Digitaldj.co.uk members will benefit from news, reviews, self marketing guides, message boards, a personalised email account and more essential features.

 

One of the main benefits of the Mastermix Digital DJ Membership is access to DJ Print, the bespoke promotional service for creating personalised promotional material such as flyers, business cards and letterheads. In addition, members will also receive a PPL membership card and welcome pack. A 12 month licence-only package without any membership benefits is also available for £200 plus VAT

 

This is one of the most important and significant changes to Mastermix since we launched the service 15 years ago. The PPL Digital DJ Licence is the future and we hope that everyone who uses computer technology, (or intends to) will take this next, legal step in their DJ career.

 

Go to www.digitaldj.co.uk

Edited August 18, 2005 by Gary

[DJ Marky Marc 0]

£250 plus VAT for 12 months http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif

 

Its a Good thing i still only play vinyl and cds http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/tongue.gif

[High Fidelity 0]

I got it too and thought Oh Good,

 

till I saw that it was for a 12 month licence.

 

So you pay £250 a year for evermore http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/fear.gif

 

Somebody's going to have to do better than that. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/wallbash.gif

 

For that money you can legally download 300 plus tracks a year, and copy them onto CD. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/533.gif

Edited August 16, 2005 by High Fidelity

[brianmole 0]

It's expensive, but it doesn't seem too bad a price to pay for a license to carry out your profession legally if you chose to go digital (ie make money).

 

Where's the small print???

[Dukesy 0]

It's been mentioned before and makes fun reading:

 

What information do I have to provide to PPL?

 

You will be required to given certain information to PPL if requested to do so by PPL.

You may be required to give PPL a list of all the tracks that you have on your DJ Database at a particular time and a list of the tracks that have copied during a particular period. This information is important to PPL as it will enable the licence fee income to be distributed as fairly as possible between the record companies whose sound recordings are used by DJs.

 

You also may be required to tell PPL what venues you have performed at. This enables PPL to check that the venues are reporting correctly to PPL themselves and that they are only using DJs who have legitimate databases of sound recordings.

 

Finally, you also may be required to provide PPL with a playlist of the tracks that you play at a particular event. You will be given advance notice of the event or asked to nominate a particular event yourself.

 

 

Can PPL inspect my computer?

 

PPL will have the right to inspect the DJ Database and Back-up Database.

 

 

I'm gonna have a moan........

 

Point Y

There is nothing on the website (from the MM team) where DJs can pay by installments as one would with vehicle, equipment insurence or the MU.

 

As this is aimed at DJs, what about all those dance instructors who copy and burn music for classes!!!!! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/rolleyes.gif

 

Point Z

MCPS state that downloading a song (paid for) is as legit as buying a CD off-the -shelf. Therefore, one should be able to playback that downloaded song as you would a normal CD, but, according to this new license, this is not going to be the case?! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/wallbash.gif

 

Read here:

What happens when the licence is terminated?

 

Depending upon the reason for the termination, you may be able to obtain a further licence, in which case you will be able to keep all the sound recordings on the DJ Database and the Back-up Database.

If a new licence is not granted, you will have to delete all the sound recordings on the DJ Database that were not acquired by way of lawful downloads

 

So what does this really mean? Does it mean that 'a lawful download' is recognised as an equal to a CD purchased off the shelf? (reference point Z)

 

So 'lawful downloads' should equal legal playback as one would a CD - reference info from MCPS.

So it's the transfer of the downloaded track that is really the 'key to this', I feel.

 

If MR 'X' was able to download a 'lawfully paid for song or album' onto his 'empty' DJ laptop DIRECT and playback the song DIRECT from the laptop - why would he need a Digital DJ license if the venue he intends to play at has blanket cover for music on premises???

And, if MR 'X' has a copy of the receipt of the downloaded-paid-for-song/album, then what exactly is being committed here without the purchase of the license????

 

Ok, I'm not talking about CD ripping (which the license is more aimed at) but taking points already mentioned before with regard to DJs using CDs at a gig and DJs using laptops, ipods, etc, then the logical 'solution' for some DJs to follow would be to continue using their original CDs as per norm, and only use a laptop, etc, that's got a direct download on it (lawfully paid for)?! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/533.gif

Or, the legal downloads can be just burnt to disc 'totally legal' and those DJs say bye bye to mp3 based technology?!

 

I'm not suggesting a way 'around the license' but am looking at lawful practice for DJs who have spent considerable amounts of money on equipment to utilise digital technology - instead of putting it on the shelf!

 

I would imagine that promo mp3 sites like DJ in The Mix are following this announcement?

What are their views?

 

I can see a step forward, three to four further steps sideways and a very big leap backwards for common sense.

 

Are the winners in this exercise the agents? http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/whistling.gif

Edited August 16, 2005 by discodirect

[Gary 0]

QUOTE (High Fidelity @ Aug 16 2005, 12:34 PM)

I got it too and thought Oh Good, till I saw that it was for a 12 month licence. So you pay £250 a year for evermore http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/fear.gif Somebody's going to have to do better than that. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/wallbash.gif

Well, Mastermix have added their own "Extra's" onto the £200 license. Namely access to a "Promo" service (I'm guessing its an MP3 download of selected Promo's - probably (maybe) saving them the cost of burning and sending out their monthly Promo CD to members).

 

The other service they offer appears to be a marketing kit - http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/wallbash.gif Just what we needed http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/wallbash.gif Buy your harddrive off ebay with 10000 tracks of pirated music already on it, buy a cheapo laptop, a powered speaker, and our license and we'll help you get work off of DJ's with real music collections and real overheads...

 

Sorry...the above sentence was perhaps a little overboard.

 

However, the license either in its Stand-alone £200 from PPL issue, or the £250 "with extras" from Mastermix appears to be a bit like a water slide - once you're on it....you're on it. EG: Big brother, George Orwell: 1984

 

Getting the license involves being registered with PPL. Your name, address, disco name, contact details... If you bought the license this year (£200), but not next year (save £200), I wonder what PPL would say in their letter to you, especially if you bought the license again the following year... I would imagine the 50% surcharge would come into play. eg: £300 for the "Oh I forgot to buy one last year" license.

 

Also...(I've just emailed them about this) - it doesnt appear to cover the usage of CDR's, CDRWs' etc - which I would want to use under the license for "archiving" my CD-singles (and vinyl) as a space saving exercise, and for convenience of use.

[cj_65 0]

My main concern is the same as Brians - to make sure I'm within the

law but Mark hit the nail on the head - the more I read about this the less likely I am

to go digital.

 

Another concern I have is that if the new digital license is accepted

then its probably only a matter of time before some of its terms

and conditions are applied to all DJs ie an

annual fee for using CDs and vinyls - perhaps I'm being too

cynical...

 

All the best, Chris.

 

[Dukesy 0]

Plasa this year should be funny! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/laugh.gif

 

Sorry - I apologise now.

I'm a firm believer in progress and would champion any cause for all digital file DJ users but this first impression (if it's going to last) is not what I would have expected the industry providers of such kit as controllers, DJ hard drive systems and software to 'support'.

 

The 'current times' are bad enough with sales....

Are the 'industry' actually going to support the license with disclaimers in the packaging?

Are new DJs going to be warned of the 'consequences'?

 

I read this site the other week - nothing to do with the topic 'directly' but it's a 'picture' of sorts! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif

http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/1984/

Edited August 16, 2005 by discodirect

[brianmole 0]

Anyone spoken to Mr Lee today yet?

[DJGAVT 0]

Alot of the rules, for example requesting your playlists from certain gigs, are what PRS do in the radio industry currently.

[MadGutts 0]

OK.... i am a little concerned...

 

So we can buy a licence to enable us to have a digital copy of music on our computers. For a pricely sum of £294... but i fail to see where the 300+ tracks are?

 

What about the new pub jukeboxes? they're all digital, so do the manufactures need a licence? or the venues? so if the venues need i licence.. do i????

 

There is not much info on the site really, but once you guys have your packs let us know if it is worth the cash...

 

http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/thumbup.gif

[Gary 0]

I think that this provision of this licence should be included in the box (and the price) of software "DJ" solutions too.

 

After all, a license is needed to own/operate a TV and when you buy a TV from a shop, they (are supposed to) forward your details to the TV Licencing officials.

 

Without this owness being placed squarely on the shoulders of the solution providers the Option of whether to be legal or not is left upto the purchaser to look into this week, next week, sometime, never.

 

As a marketing strategy, it could help to drive down the rather exhorbitant cost of decent DJ software, which is so often "aquired" through "other routes" due to the price.

 

Of course, there needs to be a way that a legit, Digitally licensed DJ can buy a fresh copy of DJ software, without buying another license - as there would be some legitimate, and some not so legitmate reasons why this might happen.

 

Conclusion on the Digital DJ dubbing licence? - OK for a first draught, but some holes. I would imagine that some (including myself) may well buy one, with the thought in mind that it might not actually be exactly (100%) what I need, but it shows that I was acting with good intention. An almost literal "Get Out Of Jail Free" card.

Edited August 16, 2005 by Gary

[jackcu 0]

I thought that the original suggestion was a one-off fee for transferring the music from one format to another? Paying every year seems a bit much when it isn't necessary for other formats. I am buying most of my new music from iTunes these days so I would have thought that a one-off licence for the music ripped from my own legal CDs would suffice.

 

Time for a rethink.

 

Jack.

[cookiecat 0]

I think it's outrageous you are paying for the song then paying again to be allowed to keep it.

How unfair is it that the cowboys, again,seem to be getting away with it.

Every one that is 100% legit is getting attacked from all angles where as the fly by nights come and go as they please http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/ranting.gif

 

[DJGAVT 0]

I agree with paying it yearly to be honest. PRS have to pay each artist a certain % of the money you pay them yearly. So when you send them a list of songs you play at a gig they send them say a £1 out of the money you pay. After a year that will soon go, then what do u pay them with? If you think about it £200 is not that bad for a music licence.

 

I do have to admit this does not effect me as I got shot of my laptop after finding it to boring.

[jackcu 0]

QUOTE (DJGAVT @ Aug 16 2005, 02:42 PM)

I agree with paying it yearly to be honest. PRS have to pay each artist a certain % of the money you pay them yearly.

It's a fair enough point, however, I was just stating that I don't have to pay for a yearly licence for using CDs, so I would have thought that paying once to transfer the songs to another format would be enough.

 

Cheers,

 

Jack.

[ian 0]

QUOTE (DJGAVT @ Aug 16 2005, 02:42 PM)

I agree with paying it yearly to be honest. PRS have to pay each artist a certain % of the money you pay them yearly. So when you send them a list of songs you play at a gig they send them say a £1 out of the money you pay. After a year that will soon go, then what do u pay them with? If you think about it £200 is not that bad for a music licence.

But my understanding is that it's not a music licence - you'd still need the same PRS licence that you need anyway if you were playing from vinyl or CD. This is on top of that. Or have I misunderstood?

 

My understanding is that for me in my current situation (with a big case of CD's and the clubs I'm playing at paying the PRS licence), if I were to switch to laptop DJ-ing, then paying this annual fee would entitle me to transfer my CD's (which I already own) to my laptop. And if I stopped the licence after a year, I'd have to wipe the tracks off my laptop. The venue would still carry on paying the same to PRS as they do currently. So this is "new" money and not taking over from something else.

 

Also, presumeably if I wanted to have a backup laptop I'd need two licences?

 

I'm already wary of laptop DJ-ing - I still feel more confident with CD decks and a mixer (and backup bits and pieces), so the whole laptop licence thing is a bit academic to me, but it's definitely making me even more wary of laptop DJ-ing.

[Gary 0]

Thats where the SG-6 license shone out.

 

You payed your £500 for the initial "float" - giving you the "right" (term used very loosely) to move upto 5000 tracks (not exceeding 5 mins duration each) onto any format you wanted eg: Hard drive, CD-R etc.

 

That £500 was a one off, for the movement of the track. Once moved, you didnt have to pay and pay and pay - you didnt even have to keep hold of the originals; indeed you could have sold the records, CD-singles, LPs etc as soon as you'd transfered them, probably paying the £500 SG-6 license fee, in the process.

 

A wedding venue full of 300 Aunts, uncles, work colleagues and fellow university students might not all rush out the day after a disco and buy all the "greatest hits" CD's of the artists they hear us play to them the night before - BUT we ARE raising, or at bare minimum, maintaining, the publics awareness of the very artists which PPL endeavours to attain recompence for. PPL dont appear to be factoring that into their equation.

 

 

QUOTE (jackcu @ Aug 16 2005, 03:46 PM)
	I would have thought that paying once to transfer the songs to another format would be enough.

[DJGAVT 0]

QUOTE (Gary @ Aug 16 2005, 03:12 PM)

A wedding venue full of 300 Aunts, uncles, work colleagues and fellow university students might not all rush out the day after a disco and buy all the "greatest hits" CD's of the artists they hear us play to them the night before - BUT we ARE raising, or at bare minimum, maintaining, the publics awareness of the very artists which PPL endeavours to attain recompence for. PPL dont appear to be factoring that into their equation.

A radio or tv station premotes the artists music but they still have to pay for playing the tunes.

[cookiecat 0]

QUOTE

A radio or tv station premotes the artists music but they still have to pay for playing the tunes.

Paid for using licence fee or advertising fees.

[DJGAVT 0]

Do we not get paid? A radio station pays more than £200 a month. Im not saying i fully support it but i can see why.

[DJ Marky Marc 0]

I cant see a problem with this licence apart from enforcing it.....

 

there is no way you will get Dave double decks and his cow boy mates to stump up the money for this licence every year....

 

they will still turn up at clubs and bars with there Ipods and laptops and still play there downloaded music, becuase they think they wont get caught...

 

if this is to benifit us as DJs then the venues need to make sure the DJ has the licence in all cases, not just when they think the MCPS might pay them a visit...

 

A resopnsible attitude from the Venues is needed.....

 

If all the venues require this licence then I would be able to charge them a decent rate for the services of a DJ holding the licence....

 

 

 

 

[Gary 0]

QUOTE (DJ Marky Marc @ Aug 16 2005, 04:50 PM)

I cant see a problem with this licence apart from enforcing it..... there is no way you will get Dave double decks and his cow boy mates to stump up the money for this licence every year.... // A responsible attitude from the Venues is needed..... If all the venues require this licence then I would be able to charge them a decent rate for the services of a DJ holding the licence....

 

 

One saving grace on this is that PPL has very big, sharp teeth when it comes to revoking a venues music license if the venue are found to be infringing the terms of the license in any way.

 

As you say Mark, its down to the venue owners to check that if their DJ turns up and "heaves" only a laptop out of the boot of his/her car, then the venue must demand to see that DJ's new shiny Digital DJ (Anyone else think that that name sounds very "Toys'r'us"?) license.

 

PPL registered venues already get visited un-announced, and at all sorts of od times, to make sure that they're not infringing other aspects of their appropriate license eg: The landlord hasnt taken all the CD's out of the jukebox to copy them onto CDR's for the jukebox of the landlord down the road, no license whatsoever, or running the entire sports centres music system under an Aerobics Instructor music licence etc.

 

So when PPL man :superhero smilely: turns up at a venue Friday night and discovers that the cheap disco, (who also runs a couple of stalls at the local car boot) has a laptop full of tunes, but no PPL "Digital DJ" http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/yucky.gif license, the venue could have its music license revoked there and then, and the venue manager has some interesting explaining to do to the bride and groom of tomorrows function. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/014.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/014.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/wallbash.gif

 

 

It has to be said however, that this version of the licence shows that the PPL definately took on board the comments of some of the people who provided feedback to PPLs proposed terms and conditions. Notably backups are now allowed (originally, they werent), the original 5000 tracks only limitation has been radically increased too. Some "shortfalls of information" are still present - eg: moving vinyl to CD, using WAV instead of (cooler-running) compressed file formats etc.

 

And if they listened once........

Edited August 16, 2005 by Gary

[High Fidelity 0]

I have to say that what still gets up my nose is the fact that I can legally download a track and then copy it over to CD, or, depending on the digital licence, even to another computer without paying any more.

 

But if I want to copy it from CD to digital, then I'm expected to pay for it twice. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/ranting.gif

 

 

[wizard 0]

I sometimes copy a purchased cd onto cdr as my cd player sometimes doesn't like cd singles with cdrom video. ( i prefer cd singles to albums)

 

it's also useful if i scratch a cd i just rip another from the original.

 

would I need this license if not stored on laptop...... or am I being naughty in just copying them in the first place ( even tho not for gain) http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/scared.gif