(By the way, if you don’t remember me asking you about this, you’re not signed up for my email list yet.)

Why is this a slice of awesome pie? Two reasons: First, Pandora pays its BMI licensing fees like any other radio station, so the more my music plays on their system the more likely I’ll actually see a royalty payment (and, therefore, eat). Since the stations are built around a recommendation engine, my tunes will be played any time someone searches for someone famous like Ben Folds or Keane. They don’t even have to specifically search for my obscure name.

Second, since a lot of people will hear my music because I’m similar to the artists they’re searching for, there’s a good chance some of them might become fans of mine. I know more than a few people who have discovered new artists they like because of Pandora. As much as the RIAA likes to ignore it, people do in fact buy albums via iTunes and Amazon from Pandora recommendations.

So thank you, all of you, who helped raise the awareness! Hopefully some more of my albums will appear in their system soon, but for now you’ve really helped me break into a new playing field!

Just like the previous check (my first one), it’s not enough to retire. Not enough to pay rent either. Heck, it’s not even enough to celebrate with sushi and sake. It’s encouraging, though, to see that one old-media establishment does indeed work in the new media world.

If you’re a podcaster, this is the part I want you to focus on: Once you can afford your bandwidth and hosting, get a BMI license. Every reported podcast play puts another drop of gasoline in my touring tank. BMI is not a big evil monolith like the RIAA (assholes), it’s a well-established system where songwriters (me) get paid for radio and internet play (you). Even on a small scale, it works.

If independent music is making your podcast better- and especially if your podcast is sponsored or making affiliate sales or ad clicks, etc. -then please help us fill up our tanks (and stomachs). This system actually works, but only if you make it fair.

UPDATE: Let me clarify… any of my music that’s on the Podsafe Music Network or similar sites are offered under that site’s licensing terms (read: free). Since I own the publishing rights, I can make that decision. If you are paying a BMI fee, however, then you’re supporting the musicians on your playlist whether or not they’re on the PMN.

My official position: If you’re paying your licensing fee, play any track from any of my albums on your show. Seriously. I own the recording rights, so I’m not going to sue you unless you’re selling copies of my tunes. Now that I know BMI licensing actually works for internet play, I’m happy with that as a source of income.

Granted, $25 for a 3-month period ain’t fantastic, but this is one business model that still works.

[tags]Matthew Ebel, piano rock, BMI, Royalties[/tags]