What is Copyright / Fair Use?
Copyright is the legal right of a creator to control their work. 'Fair Use' is a legal doctrine that allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes like criticism or commentary.
Why Copyright / Fair Use Matters for Podcasters
Copyright is one of the most misunderstood aspects of podcasting. Many podcasters believe they can play 30 seconds of a popular song under 'Fair Use,' but this is a myth. Fair Use is a legal defense, not a rule, and it is determined in court based on factors like whether the use is transformative (e.g., critiquing the lyrics) rather than just decorative. Podcasting is an 'on-demand' medium, meaning standard radio licenses (ASCAP/BMI) do not cover music played in podcasts. To avoid DMCA takedowns or lawsuits, podcasters should use royalty-free music or obtain written permission for any third-party content they include. When in doubt, leave it out.
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ID3 Tags
ID3 tags are metadata embedded directly into MP3 audio files that store information like the episode title, artist name, album name, and cover art. They help podcast players display the correct information about your episodes.
Metadata
Metadata is descriptive information about your podcast episode that helps platforms, players, and search engines understand what your content is about. It includes titles, descriptions, tags, and embedded file information.
Background Noise / Noise Floor
Background noise (also called noise floor) is the unwanted ambient sound present in your recording, such as air conditioning hum, computer fan noise, or room echo. It can distract listeners and make your podcast sound unprofessional.
Transcription
Transcription is the process of converting spoken audio into written text. For podcasters, transcriptions make content accessible, improve SEO, and enable repurposing into blog posts or social media content.