Indie Labels Warming To Podcasting But Majors Still Wary

From cNet News via RAIN  "…to date, the major labels have been reluctant to license full-track songs to the podcasting community because podcasts are downloaded files free of digital rights management protection."

"But there has been some movement on the musical front. Noncommercial radio station KCRW Los  Angeles has posted audio podcasts of its programming since last March, and in January expanded into video podcasting."

"On a case-by-case basis, KCRW has scored permission from major labels to podcast the in-studio performances of acts…(including)Medeski Martin & Wood and Robbie Robertson…KCRW plans soon to launch a "Song of the Day" podcast, featuring music by emerging bands."

"But the music in these podcasts is limited to what is recorded in the studio or from independent acts. Getting full-track studio cuts of major-label content is next to impossible."

"The major labels aren’t interested in digital distribution or promotion through podcasting," KCRW assistant general manager Jennifer Ferro says. "I think they’re waiting for it to go away…"  Read the full artilce here.