All about copyright, understanding music licensing, and government regulations.
Facebook has landed a licensing agreement with Sony/ATV Music Publishing. This deal allows users of the social media network to post videos with music from Sony/ATV’s catalog in the background. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed, but the companies said that Sony/ATV’s songwriters will have the chance to earn royalties when their compositions are used on Facebook or Instagram. Continue Reading
Tidal is the latest streaming music service to ink a partnership with Dubset, a specialist in licensing for DJ sets and remixes. This deal will allow the rightsholders to be paid when their work is used by a producer or DJ in their adaptations and other creative work. Continue Reading
Some Sirius XM subscribers have been informed that their subscription costs will go up starting in mid-February. The price hike is attached to a Music Royalty Fee already paid by some accounts. Continue Reading
Publisher Wixen has sued Spotify over claims that the streaming service used thousands of songs without the proper license. The suit was filed on December 29 in California federal court. Wixen is looking to recoup damages of at least $1.6 billion plus injunctive relief. The publisher represents titles by several well-known artists, including Tom Petty, Neil Young, and Stevie Nicks. Continue Reading
Legislation that proposes a mechanical licensing overhaul has been introduced in the House of Representatives. The Music Modernization Act would create a collective to manage the licenses for the mechanical licensing in all digital uses of music compositions. Under the bipartisan proposal, royalties would be based on free market rates of what willing buyers and sellers would negotiate. Continue Reading
Universal Music Group has signed a global, multi-year licensing deal with Facebook, marking a big legal development for how and where music might start showing up on the social network. Universal is the first major label to ink a licensing deal with Facebook, and the arrangement will allow the creation of music features across Facebook’s properties. Continue Reading
Mixcloud announced that it will use Gracenote for music recognition. Applying Gracenote MusicID will help Mixcloud to make accurate royalty payments to rights holders on mixes and DJ sets. After Gracenote’s technology identifies a song, Mixcloud adds it to its database of artist, label and publisher rights holders. Continue Reading
YouTube has signed a new licensing deal with Universal Music Group. UMG did say that the deal would lead to “growing compensation” for its artists, but neither company has disclosed details. “We’re thrilled to strengthen our partnership with Universal Music Group,” YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki said. Continue Reading
BMI announced that a Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has ruled in its favor, meaning the preforming rights organization will be able to continue its use of fractional licensing. That’s a big win for BMI, although understanding why requires some review of legal proceedings and details from the past 18 months. Continue Reading
The Copyright Royalty Board recently made its ruling for royalty rates to be paid by Sirius XM in 2018-2022. David Oxenford lays out the known details of the determination along with some important notes about the appeal for the webcasting rates set for 2016. Continue Reading
The Copyright Royalty Board judges have set the new royalty rates and terms for Sirius XM. The company will pay 15.5% of gross revenues for the period of January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2022. That’s a 40% increase from the 11% share Sirius XM has been paying for royalties. Continue Reading
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced that five new House representatives have signed onto the Local Radio Freedom Act (LRFA), making a majority of support. LRFA is a non-binding resolution against any new performance royalty imposed on U.S. radio stations. At issue is broadcast radio’s historic exemption from paying artists and labels for playing music recordings over the air. Continue Reading