Several streaming services drew the ire of songwriting groups when they moved to appeal the mechanical royalty rates set by the Copyright Royalty Board. Although Amazon, Google, and Pandora are also participating in the appeal, Spotify has been shouldering the bulk of the critique.

Most recently, Spotify received an open letter from several songwriters criticizing the company’s outreach moves to that industry. “You created a songwriter relations team and ingratiated Spotify into our community,” the letter said. “We know that you are not the only DSP appealing the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) rate determination. You are, however, the only provider that made us feel we were working to build a modern music industry together.”

Before the streaming companies even announced their plans for an appeal, songwriting groups were on the offensive. NMPA President and CEO David Israelite said back in February that an appeal would “in effect declare war against songwriters.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

We are stronger when we stand together. Whether you write in your bedroom or you write at a fancy studio, we are all songwriters. Thank you to all the Not So Secret Geniuses brave enough to sign. WE ARE THE #MUSICARMY! s/o @billboard @variety @nmpaorg @nsaiofficial @wearesonala @andthewriteris @milkhoneyla @pulserecording @busbee

A post shared by RossGolan (@rossgolan) on Apr 9, 2019 at 1:53pm PDT