ASCAP announced a new five-year agreement with the Radio Music License Committee. This deal sets the public performance fee rates to be paid by commercial terrestrial radio stations for the rights to play ASCAP’s repertory across the years 2017-2021. It covers plays of ASCAP’s catalog on-the-air in terrestrial broadcasts and select digital transmissions, although the press release did not elaborate on the digital components. The RMLC includes more than 10,000 radio stations in the U.S.
“We are confident that our new agreement will provide enhanced financial benefits to ASCAP songwriters, composers and music publishers at a time of tremendous disruption in the music industry,” ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews said of the arrangement. “Reaching a voluntary agreement with the terrestrial radio industry enables ASCAP to stabilize and grow revenues for our members while continuing to aggressively advocate for regulatory reform to modernize the music licensing system.”