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Short, sweet and still pirated
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Jingles have been a huge part of radio station branding a half century. The short musical bits announce a station’s name, sometimes location or description. Programmers and DJs use jingles to separate other program element. They have become, for broadcasters, an art form.

Top rated Polish music broadcaster RMF FM uses a set of custom jingles. Every few years a new set is contracted from one of several well-known producers. The arrival of a new jingle “package” is a major event. Programmers typically travel to the producer’s studios for the final “sing.” RMF FM is one of several radio stations in Poland owned by Bauer Media. (See more about media in Poland here)

It was discovered recently that at least one RMF FM jingle had been pirated, reported Polish media portal Wirtualnemedia (June 10). A station in Tunisia, RM FM, is using a jingle suspiciously similar, with a slight edit to remove one F. Pirating jingles has been something of sport for ages, radio broadcasters and “jingle freaks” all participating. RM FM, located in M’saken, north-eastern Tunisia, is a local Arabic-language radio station.

So, then, there comes the intellectual property question. Certainly, Bauer Media is a rights holder as is the jingle producer, identified only as “from Dallas.” Unauthorized usage of any copyrighted material is often vigorously fought, at the very least to discourage the practice. (See more about intellectual property rights here)

“This is probably not a big (legal) problem,” said lawyer Marcin Mioduszewski, “a violation of copyright and related rights. I do not know if the Polish station has an interest in prosecuting the broadcaster in Tunisia. It would probably be necessary to involve lawyers there and apply for protection from the Tunisian courts.” It might be possible to seek redress under EU law, he added, but that would only work if RM FM has internet servers in Europe. Cue the rolling eyes.

Chaos and money on the ballot in FM shutoff referendum
things change

Followers of Swiss direct democracy are no doubt aware of the popular referendum. Just about any question can be brought before Swiss voters after a petition from 50,000 persons is filed. And so it is that Swiss voters will get a vote on FM shutoff, scheduled to rollout from next year.

The ever-contrary Roger Schawinski, founder and operator of Zurich commercial station Radio 1, drummed up the petition and filed the papers through a campaign called Rette UKW, German for Preserve FM, reported Swiss media news portal persoenlich.com (June 4). Having won a fair share of battles for radio broadcasting over the years, Herr Schawinski enlisted politician Doris Leuthard, once the President of the Swiss Confederation and leader of the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC).

Swiss media regulator OFCOM decided, after years of deliberation, to close FM radio distribution, first with public broadcaster SSR-SRG channels in 2022 then privately-owned stations in 2023. DETEC signed off on the decision. Switzerland would become the second European country, after Norway, to end FM radio broadcasting. Frau Leuthard, at the time (2016), agreed. Now, she says, “DAB+ did not establish itself as quickly as it had assumed when it was decided to switch it off at the time.” The National Council, representing each Swiss canton, will take up the question in August. (See more about DAB/digital radio here)

Herr Schawinski has never been a fan of DAB digital radio technology, its successor DAB+ or, for that matter, the SSR-SRG, which has promoted the digital radio platform from its beginning. Shutting off FM distribution, he said, would cause “chaotic conditions.” His specific issue is the stalled take-up of DAB+ receivers in automobiles. Radio listeners would be “forced” to flee to “foreign stations.” Chaos is very unpopular with Swiss voters.

The Swiss Association of Private Broadcasters (VSP) still wants FM broadcasting shutdown. Jürg Bachmann, president of the VSP, continued to argue that FM distribution “costs a lot of money that would inevitably be withdrawn from the programs,” quoted by Swiss-German daily Tages-Anzeiger (June 3). Saving money is very popular with Swiss voters.

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