Dr. Sparks,

I agree that this is an exciting way to allow more people access to concerts, but I think that the issues involving the legal implications of broadcasting copyrighted music on the web, even using streaming technology, aren't quite identical to a non-broadcast public performance. For example, I think that BMI offers licenses for this kind of thing.

 

If your department did some background research on that, It would be very helpful if you could share that information here. I visited the UNT website and I think you're using USTREAM.TV for the technical end of things, but I don't think they deal with the copyright issues--they leave that up to you to do. Your answer seems to indicate that your department isn't obtaining any further licensing or permission for the the live streamed content. Is that the case?

 

While on the site, I opened the "Music Player" and enjoyed a performance of Kuhnau's Tristis est animea, although you might want to get the UNT music webperson to fix the spelling (they've got it listed as Triste est anima mea). :-)

 

Peace,

David Topping