Reporting Whole Classical Pieces
As many of you classical music folks will recall, there has been a semi-open question about how to report to SoundExchange when an entire classical piece has been played. When I initially asked SoundExchange this question, they reported that stations should report each track as it is broken down on the CD or album by the record label. That is to say, if a label breaks a Beethoven symphony into four separate tracks, and the whole symphony is played, then all four tracks need to be reported separately.
Understandably, many of you expressed concern over this requirement, since it can create a lot more work, particularly when pieces with lots of movements (e.g. operas) are played in whole.
Actually, “concern” is an understatement.
So, I went back to SoundExchange and explained the issue and asked if they were really sure about their initial answer. Could stations, I asked, just report the whole piece are one, rather than having to list each track separately?
It took a while but they finally got back to me with a final, definitive answer.
Which most of you won’t like.
For better or for worse, they have reaffirmed their first answer. They still want stations to list each track in a piece separately, as they are broken down by the record label.
I wish I could give you guys the answer you wanted. I tried, I really did, to plead the case. But, no go.
That is the requirement so, as I have said all along, do your best to meet it.
Tags: classical music, SoundExchange