All about copyright, understanding music licensing, and government regulations.
In September 2024 we reported a startling case of fraudulent streaming, when a guileful North Carolina musician named Michael Smith was accused of fraudulently streaming AI-created songs and dishonestly collecting royalties. We now learn a judge has determined the consequences/ Continue Reading
The U.S. Copyright Royalty Board has announced new mechanical royalty rates for the creative side of the music industry — songwriters and music publishers. The new rates apply to 2026 and 2027. They are the final two years of the current rate-setting period. Click for details. Continue Reading
The AM Radio For Every Vehicle Act — proposed legislation which, if made into law — would require American car makers to put an AM radio into every new car, is in the news again. Continue Reading
Two days ago we posted news of a settlement between performance rights organization (PRO) BMI and the Radio Music Licensing Committee. That hard-won agreement resulted in a rate increase for BMI. Today, ASCAP puts out news of a similar agreement, following a similar lawsuit. Continue Reading
TPX (The Podcast Exchange) has reportedly sent a letter to creditors notifying them that the company plans to file a Notice of Intention (NOI) under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. Doing so creates a protective one-month time period in which to negotiate new terms with creditors. Continue Reading
Venerable streaming service and RAIN News sponsor AccuRadio is starting the process of bankruptcy protection in Chicago. The action comes after several months of negotiation with government mandated music royalty collection agency SoundExchange. That negotiation is at an impasse, according… Continue Reading
Video/audio streaming site Video has prevailed in a copyright infringement lawsuit brought by major music labels Universal Music Group (UMG) and Sony Music. This is not the first time Vimeo has tangled with labels over the same issue, as RAIN reported in 2016 in Capital Records vs. Vimeo. The fulcrum in both cases is the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), enacted in 1998.
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Kobalt, the world’s largest independent music publisher, has acquired an equity stake in leading music licensing company Slipstream. The result is a licensing/content behemoth. The announcement from Slipstream says the deal “brings together complementary technology and expertise to serve the entire music publishing ecosystem, from the world’s top songwriters to brands and creative businesses of all kinds. This significant alliance comes on the heels of Slipstream’s acquisition of Anthem Entertainment earlier this month, also covered by RAIN. Continue Reading
Universal Music Group (UMG), the world’s largest record company, has sued Believe, the global distributor of music recordins. Believe is also the parent company of leading music distributor TuneCore, which is a popular on-ramp for indie musicians putting their music into global streaming platforms. Click for quotes and link to the court document. Continue Reading
— Leaping (Standard Media Index)
— Ratings Excitement (Jacobs Media) Continue Reading
— Dead Or Alive? (Hear Me Out podcast)
— A Happy Return (Matty Staudt) Continue Reading
“Years of negotiations.” That’s how performing rights organization (PRO) BMI describes its patience and perseverance in royalty dealings with SiriusXM. With patience and perseverance evidently expired, BMI filed a legal action to determine what it calls “fair and appropriate fees.” Click for details — all from BMI’s perspective. No public word from SiriusXM at posting time. Continue Reading