Internet Music Rights for Public Broadcasters

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I begin?

Before you register, identify a secondary contact for the Internet Music Rights (IMR) system. The system requires both primary and secondary contacts. You will be the primary contact and the secondary contact should be someone in station management.

You will be asked to provide administrative information about your station and its Web site(s). After CPB confirms your submission, you will receive an e-mail with instructions on accessing the agreements for review. If you do not receive a confirmation e-mail, please check your spam or junk e-mail folder.

What happens after I submit my registration?

Soon after submitting your registration, the primary contact will receive an e-mail from CPB. Using the information in the e-mail, log on to the Internet Music Rights site to review the agreements.

How do I accept the license agreements?

After reviewing the agreements, indicate that your station agrees to the terms of the agreements by checking a box provided for that purpose. You will receive an e-mail confirming your acceptance of the agreements.

What do joint licensees do to register?

Joint licensees should register both as a radio station and as a television station. Although a joint licensee may only have a single Web site, dual registration will permit the television licensee to agree to comply with the SESAC license, and the radio licensee to agree to comply with both the SoundExchange and SESAC licenses.

What constitutes a URL?

A URL is the address for a Web site. For example, let's say that a station's URL -- or domain name -- is www.example.org. Any sites contained under the domain name, such as www.example.org/another_site/, do not need to be registered.

How do I submit my reports?

Stations must provide their SoundExchange compliant reports to Public Interactive (PI). CPB has selected PI as the sole agent to collect and submit reports to SoundExchange on behalf of public radio. Before uploading reports to PI you must first register with them.

If you have not already done so, please register your station with PI.

Questions about submitting your reports can be directed to Phil Johnson, Project Manager, SoundExchange Reporting.

What information is shared?

CPB will regularly report URLs and station administrative information submitted for the license agreements with SoundExchange and SESAC. CPB will generate this information as determined by the terms of the applicable agreements.

How do I make changes to my account information?

Log in to the Music Rights system using the link, user name, and password provided in your confirmation e-mail. Click the "Edit Account" button at the top of the page. You will be able to change contact information and URLs on the Edit Account page.

Contact CPB

For questions regarding Internet Music Rights, please contact us at musicrights@cpb.org.