• Why was JKids Radio created?
• Why is JKids Radio important for both new and established JKids artists?
• How does JKids Radio pay artists?
• Is JKids a JLicense licensee?
• What kind of music does JKids Radio accept?
• Who decides what music is played on JKids Radio?
• How does an established artist or new artist submit music to JKids Radio?
• After I submit my music, how long does it take for the JKids Radio Youth Advisory Board to determine selection?
• Can I resubmit the same songs for consideration?
• How do I copyright my music?
• What is an ID3 Tag and how do I properly ID3 Tag my songs?
• Should I make sheet music?
WHY WAS JKIDS RADIO CREATED?
JKids Radio was launched to share inspirational Jewish music with tens of thousands of children, families, and their friends throughout the world.
↑ back to top
Why is JKids Radio important for both new and established JKids artists?
In the secular and Christian worlds, fans are exposed to artists, their music, and their merchandise through mass communication channels such as television and radio and extensive live concert tours by the artists. There are thousands of secular and Christian radio stations that expose and promote the careers of artists.
In the Jewish world, there are very few opportunities for Jewish artists and their music to be exposed on television or radio to develop a connection with national and international Jewish communities. JKids Radio provides a unique and broad-reaching channel to expose and promote JKids artists. JKids Radio features new and established artist profiles on jkidsradio.com so visitors can learn much more about the artists, find out where to buy artist merchandise, and how to book artists for live performance engagements.
↑ back to top
How does JKids Radio pay artists?
JKids Radio is fully committed to strictly adhere with all U.S. laws and regulations governing Internet radio broadcasts. All legal US-based radio stations pay music licensing fees to SoundExchange (for use of the recordings), as well as ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC (for public performance of the songs). These licenses facilitate paid, legal streaming of any music from these catalogs, limited by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”). Under the DMCA, webcasters are entitled to these licenses only if their playlists comply with certain requirements, called the “sound recording complement.” For example, songs cannot be available on-demand, and no more than four songs by an artist can be streamed on the same station within any three-hour period.
In the United States, SoundExchange is the Digital Performance Rights Organization that collects and distributes royalties on the behalf of sound recording copyright owners (typically record labels). For proper payment for the public performance of their recordings on JKids Radio or any other Internet radio station, record labels or independent artists should register with SoundExchange. The amount of dollars sound recording copyright owners recognize from streaming depends on how often the songs are played, and the number of people listening to each performance.
ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC are the Performance Rights Organization that collects and distributes royalties on the behalf of song copyright owners (i.e. writers and publishers). For proper payment for the public performance of their songs on JKids Radio or any other Internet radio station, song writers should register with one of these three major Performance Rights Organizations. Again, the amount of dollars song copyright owners recognize from streaming depends on how often the songs are played, and the number of people listening to each performance.
↑ back to top
Is JKids a JLicense licensee?
Yes, JKIDS is a proud JLicense licensee! Check out jlicense.com for more information.
What kind of music does JKids Radio accept?
JKids Radio accepts music submissions of all types and genres of Jewish music or music created by Jewish artists. JKids music celebrates Jewish themes, holidays, traditions, and values. The music selected for JKids Radio includes a variety of themes that reflect the mission of JKids Radio, and songs that are developmentally appropriate for children.
JKids Radio will not play music with anti-Semitic, racist, sexist, violent text, Christian, Christian-messianic, or from any faith community other than Judaism
↑ back to top
Who decides what music is played on JKids Radio?
Music played on the JKids Radio broadcast is selected by JKids Radio staff with the help of feedback and suggestions from a variety of sources including fan requests on jkidsradio.com and mobile app.
↑ back to top
How does an established artist or new artist submit music to JKids Radio?
Please fill out the JKids Artist Submission Form and your music will be considered for broadcast on JKids Radio. CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR MUSIC
↑ back to top
After I submit my music, how long does it take for the JKids Radio Youth Advisory Board to determine selection?
There is a revolving music submission cycle, so there is no set amount of time for selection of the artists that will be broadcast on JKids Radio. Processing time typically takes several weeks or even months. Please free to check on the status of your music submission no less than 1 month after your initial submission by contacting us.
↑ back to top
Can I resubmit the same songs for consideration?
If JKids Radio chooses to not broadcast the music from your initial submission, it is highly recommended that you review JKids Radio Music Selection Standards and resubmit different music selections.
↑ back to top
How do I copyright my music?
A copyright is the sole legal right of the author of an original literary, visual, or audio work to use, license, or copy that work. Copyrights granted after January 1, 1978 last for the lifetime of the author plus an additional 50 years.
In the music industry, a songwriter or publisher can copyright a song, and a record label or an independent artist can copyright a specific recording of a song.
Once you put your music into tangible form (i.e. sheet music or a recording), you technically have a legitimate copyright over that work. However, it is prudent to take additional steps to establish proof that you are the holder of that copyright in case of a dispute. Some people try the “poor man’s copyright” by putting the tangible work into a sealed envelope, mailing it to themselves, and leaving it sealed as proof. Should they find themselves in a dispute, this would be their only evidence.
To truly protect yourself, establish more substantive proof, obtain the backing of the US government, and potentially save yourself a lot of time and headaches, it is best to register your work with the US Copyright Office. Registering with the Copyright office is quick and easy and can be done online or through the mail. To learn more, visit copyright.gov. Keep in mind, it costs a minimum of $35, and though your copyright is registered the second it is received (and properly filled out), it may take anywhere from 10 weeks to 8 months to receive your copyright certificate. For further information regarding copyrights, you might also consider seeking professional counsel from an attorney specializing in copyright law or a general practice attorney with knowledge in basic copyright law.
Tips:
- Registering online is quicker and cheaper than paper forms.
- You can register one copyright for a collection of songs (i.e. an album)
- If you want to copyright just the intellectual property (i.e. sheet music), use form PA. If you want to copyright just the specific recording of that intellectual property, or if you want to make one registration for both the recording and the intellectual property, use form SR. Please note that the copyright applicant must be the same for both the recording and intellectual property in order to complete one registration for both the recording and intellectual property.
What is an ID3 Tag and how do I properly ID3 Tag my songs?
An ID3 Tag is the standardized format used to share information about our songs in media apps like iTunes. You often see ID3 Tags identifying the songs title, artist name, album title, etc.
Open iTunes, and locate the song in your library that you wish to update ID3 Tag information.
Right-click (or control-click for Mac users) the file, and choose “Get Info” (you may also left-click the file and then hit Control + I for Windows users or Command + I for Mac users). A window will appear. Click the tab named “Details”. Once in this tab, you will see several fields in which you may enter or change information such as Artist name, Album name, Album artist, etc. You can edit the ID3 fields so that the information is how you want to public to see it. Once it’s complete, click “OK” and your information will be saved.
For music that is submitted to JKids Radio, songs files need to be submitted in MP3 format at a bit rate of 128kbps. To do this, go to “Preferences” located in the toolbar. Under “General Settings,” click “Import Settings.” In the Import Settings, make sure the file format is set to MP3, and the bit rate is 128kbps.
For an album you have just created and would like ID tags to appear when a listener places the CD in their computer for the first time, follow these instructions:
- Open iTunes, and place CD in your CD drive.
- Click the CD button near the top left of the iTunes window.
- Enter the song information.
- Click Options near the top right of the window and choose Submit CD Track Names.
- Enter the artist and album information and click OK.
Should I make sheet music?
Sheet music is still a very important means of dissemination of music in the Jewish world. Cantors, soloists, rabbis, and educators all use sheet music to learn new or older tunes appropriate for a particular season, holiday, theme, or lesson. If you write liturgical music, it is particularly important to offer your music in professionally-transcribed form in addition to your recording. Sheet music provides an accessible format for your music to be shared with congregations and communities throughout the world.
↑ back to top