Pandora has signed another direct deal, this time with Downtown Music Publishing. The rights management firm has music by writers ranging from The Beatles to Hans Zimmer and Jewel to One Direction in its catalog. The press release contains the same type of language that was in the announcements of Pandora’s recent licensing agreements with publishers such as Warner/Chappell, Sony/ATV, and SONGS Music Publishing.
With the recent announcement of new royalty rates for online radio beginning in 2016, Pandora has appeared to be ramping up its efforts to secure direct deals with more and more music entities. The publishing deals are separate from the CRB ruling, but any arrangements Pandora makes with labels would also supplant that new rate decision. In that category, the non-interactive audio platform already has deals with independent label group Merlin and with classical music specialist Naxos.