From music licensing and podcasting to broadcasting live events and reading content on air, copyright can be one of the most complex areas of community broadcasting.
To help stations, volunteers and staff better understand their responsibilities, the Australian Copyright Council, with assistance from the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA), has released the Copyright Guide for Community Radio Broadcasters. The guide provides practical information about common copyright questions and scenarios faced by community radio stations across Australia.
The guide tackles many of the questions regularly raised by community broadcasters, including:
- Can you broadcast music from Spotify or Apple Music on air?
- What permissions do you need when recording and broadcasting live music events?
- Can your station read newspaper articles, books, plays or other written content on air?
- Who owns a radio program when a presenter leaves a station?
Alongside detailed explanations, the guide includes practical case studies based on situations community broadcasters may encounter in their day-to-day operations.
Supporting stations to understand and manage copyright obligations helps strengthen the sector's capability and ensures community broadcasters can continue creating trusted, independent content for their communities.
Download the guide
The Copyright Guide for Community Radio Broadcasters is now available through the CBAA Resource Library.
Visit the copyright resource page to learn more and download your copy:
https://www.cbaa.org.au/resources/resource-library/copyright
Please note that the guide is an educational resource and does not constitute legal advice. Stations requiring advice about their specific circumstances should seek independent legal assistance.