TOP20 COUNTDOWN

Hi Folks!

So i have a few questions and i was wondering if you guys could help me out with any details that you may have. I want to produce a Saturday Top 20 CHR Music countdown on a weekly basis. Airing the countdown on other stations that is within the same format as the countdown. I was told by BMI that i wouldn't need any license to play it on the air because i would be using the radio station  licence (nother words they are license to play that type of music)

I am also tying in the web-site that will allow people to vote for there favorite songs for that week the site will also carry pics of artist and include a link to there bio information or any new music coming.

My question is (and it sounds so simple) what I'm  i missing in order to get this countdown rolling. do i have to get permission from the record label and if so how would i do that. Getting the music hmmm should i go through a music service like radio express or another ( Any ideas) I'm i goin have to buy a royalty fee???

CHarles

This is actually extremely easy in principal, but actually pulling it off is a lot harder.

You don't need a licence or anything because as you stated the Stations airing this are already licensed.  You will however (at least in Canada because of CanCon regulations, but I assume everywhere else as well) have to submit a cue sheet to all of the stations airing your program.  It needs to have Artist and Song titles, lengths, etc. 

You can get your music from anywhere you like.

The hardest thing about getting something like this off the ground is making any money.  You will be competing with Rick Dees and Seacrest, which are free to the stations (barter...but I assume it's only a few spots during the program.  It's not to intrusive to the station, but the syndicators can still make money because these shows are heard in hundreds of markets around the world.

I'm not trying to be pessimistic, but it will be very hard to get stations on board.  Most stations will not pay for a program so you will have to have a barter agreement, which means you will have to get a national sponsor, which is hard when you don't have a proven track record (for this show).
I don't mean to be negative.  I just know it's a hard business.

This may not be in your best interest but I have heard of people paying to get there shows on in LA/NY/Chicago etc.  It's funny but It's just human nature.  Somebody from a small station will taker you more seriously if you have some big stations carrying your show.

Good luck.

Randy.

(Bearing in mind this information/advice is given from an American law perspective.)

I was told by BMI that i wouldn't need any license to play it on the air because i would be using the radio station  licence (nother words they are license to play that type of music)

Absolutely true.  You are not responsible for the licensing fees since your production of the show does not legally constitute a performance.

I am also tying in the web-site that will allow people to vote for there favorite songs for that week the site will also carry pics of artist and include a link to there bio information or any new music coming.

It depends less on the fact that you're using someone's likeness and more to do with the source of the picture.  That said, a record label would be brain dead to quash someone who is trying to promote their artists with a legitimate countdown.

My question is (and it sounds so simple) what I'm  i missing in order to get this countdown rolling. do i have to get permission from the record label and if so how would i do that. Getting the music hmmm should i go through a music service like radio express or another ( Any ideas) I'm i goin have to buy a royalty fee???

As long as you acquire the music legally, you're in good standing.  There are many options for this:  CD, Amazon MP3, iTunes, and so on.  A record service like Promo Only or Gold Disc would also be sufficient.  If your countdown has any success, you might be able to get labels to give you "service", wherein they send you singles and advances for the very purpose of giving you easy access to the music.