ASCAP - RAIN News

ASCAP and BMI jointly create Songview data platform for new level of music rights transparency

Posted on December 22, 2020 by Brad Hill

Leading performance rights organizations (PROs) ASCAP and BMI have jointly announced the launch of Songview, a searchable database of music ownership rights. Better organization and transparency in the tangled field of music ownership has long been needed, according to nearly all experts in the field, to more accurately and quickly direct royalty payments to the proper creators. Continue Reading →

ASCAP sees revenue and distributions surpass $1 billion for a third year

Posted on May 1, 2020 by Anna Washenko

ASCAP announced that it recorded record high distributions and revenues in 2019. The performing rights organization generated $1.274 billion in 2019 revenue, up from $1.227 billion the previous year. Distributions also surpassed $1 billion for the third consecutive year. Continue Reading →

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ASCAP delays April payments as coronavirus creates ripple effect through music industry finances

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Anna Washenko

The coronavirus pandemic has already had an impact on music consumption and performance around the world. Performing rights organization ASCAP is the latest company to share changes as a result of the disease. President and Chairman Paul Williams told members in an email that the organization is postponing its scheduled April 6 payments to April 28. Continue Reading →

Public comment closes on Justice Department’s consent decree review, revealing more industry division

Posted on August 14, 2019 by Anna Washenko

The Department of Justice has closed the open comment period for its review of the consent decrees governing ASCAP and BMI. Both of the performing rights organizations have submitted their views on the subject, as have other groups from the music and audio industry. Even though the topic was recently addressed by the DOJ, the sector still has deeply divided interests in how these rules may or may not change. Continue Reading →

Department of Justice begins review of consent decrees; ASCAP and BMI respond

Posted on June 6, 2019 by Anna Washenko

The U.S. Department of Justice has officially opened a new review of the consent decrees governing ASCAP and BMI. Both performance rights organizations have operated their copyright management systems under these rules for more than 75 years. The review will examine whether the decrees should continue in their current state, receive modifications, or be ended entirely. Continue Reading →

ASCAP and BMI release open letter as the future for consent decrees becomes uncertain

Posted on February 28, 2019 by Anna Washenko

Consent decrees are back in the headlines. These rules govern how performing rights organizations ASCAP and BMI collect fees for use of their catalogs, but now the Department of Justice is reviewing the decrees and considering their end. Today, ASCAP and BMI issued an open letter with their stance on the possible reforms. Continue Reading →

David Oxenford: Podcaster Sued for Copyright Infringement for Using Music without Permission

Posted on November 30, 2018 by David Oxenford

by David Oxenford

Major labels and publishers are quick to call in the copyright lawyers, and this time their target was a podcast that they claimed was illegally using music in episodes. David Oxenford explains the distinctions between different performance licenses and what podcasters should do to stay on the right side of copyright law. Continue Reading →

ASCAP wins two court cases against terrestrial radio

Posted on July 13, 2018 by Anna Washenko

ASCAP shared the results from two court proceedings against broadcast radio stations from Royce International Broadcasting Corporation in California. The stations, KFRH-FM, KREV-FM, and KRCK-FM, will pay the performing rights organization more than $1.5 million in license fees, costs, attorneys’ fees, and statutory damages. Continue Reading →

ASCAP’s 2017 distributions broke $1 billion for the first time

Posted on April 19, 2018 by Anna Washenko

ASCAP reported that it distributed more than $1 billion to its members for the first time in 2017. The performing rights organization collected revenue of about $1.144 billion and distributed more than $1.007 billion last year. The group’s total revenue was up 8% on-year and distributions increased 10%. Continue Reading →

ASCAP hires new chief technology officer

Posted on August 14, 2017 by Anna Washenko

ASCAP announced that Tristan Boutros has joined the performing rights organization as its chief technology officer. In this role, he will lead ASCAP’s technology strategy and execution, guiding projects such as elastic computing, cloud tech, and the API roadmap. Boutros most recently worked as chief of operations at The New York Times, with prior work at Warner Music Group, BlackBerry, and IAC. Continue Reading →

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ASCAP and BMI are making a joint database of rights, licensing information

Posted on July 26, 2017 by Anna Washenko

ASCAP and BMI announced a collaboration that will see the two performing rights organizations create a single comprehensive database of musical works from their libraries. The database will contain an overview of shares and rights information for much of the music licensed in the United States, offering more clarity around music ownership. Continue Reading →

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Small webcasters rocked by licensing issues

Posted on July 18, 2017 by Brad Hill

Last week we began receiving notes from webcasting clients of two large hosting companies, Radionomy and StreamLicensing, noting that recent changes and communications had troubled their webcast stations. The two situations are coinciding in time, but are unrelated — except both are about music licensing. Continue Reading →

by David Oxenford

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