How can you ensure proper licensing for your live stream?

1 Know your rights

The first step is to understand what rights you have to the music you want to stream. If you are performing your own original songs, you own the copyright and can stream them without any problems. However, if you are playing covers, samples, or other people's songs, you need to obtain permission from the owners or their representatives. This could be the songwriters, publishers, record labels, or performing rights organizations (PROs).

2 Get the right licenses

The second step is to get the right licenses for your live stream. Depending on the platform you use, the type of music you play, and the territory you stream from, you may need different licenses. For example, some platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch have agreements with some PROs and labels to cover certain music rights. However, these agreements may not cover all the music you want to stream, or all the countries you want to reach. Therefore, you may need to get additional licenses from other sources, such as mechanical licenses, synchronization licenses, or direct licenses.

3 Follow the rules

The third step is to follow the rules of the platform and the license holders. Each platform has its own terms of service, policies, and guidelines that you need to comply with. For example, some platforms may limit the duration, frequency, or quality of your streams, or require you to use certain features or tools. Similarly, each license holder may have its own conditions, restrictions, or fees that you need to respect. For example, some license holders may require you to report your streams, pay royalties, or credit the original artists.

4 Monitor your stream

The fourth step is to monitor your stream and check for any issues or errors. Sometimes, even if you have the proper licenses, your stream may still encounter problems due to technical glitches, human errors, or automated systems. For example, some platforms may use content identification or filtering tools that may flag or block your stream for potential infringement, even if you have permission. Therefore, you need to keep an eye on your stream and fix any problems as soon as possible.

5 Communicate with your audience

The fifth step is to communicate with your audience and let them know what you are doing and why. Your fans are your biggest supporters and they want to enjoy your music and interact with you. However, they may not be aware of the legal and technical aspects of live streaming. Therefore, you need to inform them about the licenses you have, the rules you follow, and the issues you face. This way, you can build trust, loyalty, and engagement with your audience.

6 Learn and improve

The sixth step is to learn and improve from your live streaming experience. Live streaming is a dynamic and evolving field that requires constant adaptation and innovation. Therefore, you need to keep yourself updated on the latest trends, technologies, and best practices. You also need to evaluate your performance, feedback, and analytics, and see what works and what doesn't. By doing so, you can enhance your live streaming skills, increase your audience, and grow your income.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?