Watermarking will automate the process of tracking performance royalties through the monitoring of broadcasting . In theory, collection agencies such as BMI, ASCAP, MCPS or SESAC could have offices linked via computer to radio and TV stations. When a song is played through the decoding key on a computer, an entry would be registered on a database, allowing the station to compile an accurate report of songs broadcast which can be forwarded to the collection agency without the need to manually complete logs. This method also guarantees a more accurate payment of royalties and cuts out the amount of red tape currently involved in broadcast monitoring.

Previous: What is digital audio watermarking? | Contents | Next: Repertoire stock control / sales tracking