CRB raises mechanical royalty for music creators — gradually over five years

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, a span between 2023 and 2027 identified as “Phonorecords IV,” often shortened to “CRB IV.”

This action completes the assignment of royalty rates over the next five years. But first things first. Below are details of the 2026 rate.

• Rate: 13.1 cents per song (or 2.52 cents per minute for songs longer than 5 minutes).
• Applies To: Physical media (CDs, vinyl) and permanent downloads.

Important to remember two things:

The rate applies to physical purchases (CDs and vinyl records) and permanent paid-for downloads. The CRB news today does not apply to streaming, the rates for which are handled separately by the CRB in a different schedule.