Can a radio station play a full CD or only singles?

Question

Can a radio station play a full CD/non-commercial singles or only commercial released singles?

And are there any differences for an Israeli radio station?

Answer 1

According to the DMCA in the U.S., you cannot play more than two songs in a row by the same artist and you cannot play more that two songs from the same album in a row.  Also, you're not supposed to play more that 4 songs from the same artist in a 3 hour time period.  I think these rules only apply to Internet radio, but I could be wrong.  Don't know how strongly they enforce these rules.

Answer 2

Depends on the station.  Most large corporately-owned stations have playlists that they have to follow; the more independent ones have more leeway in their playlist selections.  

Of course, they'll have to leave room for advertisements, unless they're listener-sponsored.  

I have no idea about Israeli stations.

Answer 3

They usually play the singles, after months/years they will play more album songs.

Answer 4

I used to work in a radio station and for any "new" released cd... you can only play what has been approved by the record label.  Once CD's have reached a certain shelf life (determined by the record company) you can play any song off the disk, but it's not a common practice.

Answer 5

I can only speak for what is generally accepted in the US.

Technically stations can play and entire CD, but are strongly encouraged not to; unless in a joint promotion arranged in advance with notice to all: label, artist, management, and local retailers.

Radio station program directors, however, have been known to bend the rules and don't like being told what to do by others. So it's occasionally done, more often on non-commercial stations. The reason of course is because those who produced the CD want to you buy that CD, but if you can record it, in its entirety, off the radio with digital quality, you are less likely to purchase it.

Another reason it's not often done, especially by bigger commercial stations in bigger markets, is because it's not considered particularly good programming - and leaves less room for the commercials. It better be a band that a lot of your listeners will sit thru for an entire CD. A lot of people listen for consistent variety. That's why something of this nature should be considered a novelty and done in moderation.

-a guy named duh

Answer 6

It could play what every they like. They have make sure it's something that the people would like though. Which could be hard because artist don't always have c.d. with all great songs.

Answer 7

I agree with  Duh... as long as it's a song that the radio station knows the licensing group to pay royalites to (if it has one), they will can play it...

But as Duh said, some radio stations will play cd tracks that haven't been offically released as singles for variety and this is one way some songs actually finally get mainstream release (by testing great with the mavericks radio audience if you will)

But some stations usually play cds but usually late at night when their are less commericals to air, less people to record (as the cd thing is usually frowned upon by the record labels) and more as a special treat if you will....

I don't know the music licensing rules in Israel as  most of this would be in Hebrew or Arabic so it would be a question

Best question to ask it to would be the guy who's email in in this website

http://www.emimusicpub.com/worldwide/aro...