It’s official. The Department of Justice has released the final ruling for its review of performing rights organization consent decrees, which includes “full-works licensing” and prohibits withdrawal of digital rights from bundled licenses. Both ASCAP and BMI are already mounting their responses. Continue Reading
ASCAP has relaunched its public repertory database ACE following a redesign. The changes are aimed at making the platform more informative and easier to use. ACE originally made the licensable share info public in November 2015. Continue Reading
The U.S. Department of Justice has completed its much anticipated two-year review of consent decrees — decades-old laws which govern how ASCAP and BMI are permitted to license music on behalf of songwriters, composers, and publishers. The bottom line: No change, and a blow to the two major performing rights organizations (PROs) which have lobbied for more flexible control of rights management, especially in the streaming era. Continue Reading
ASCAP is hosting an advocacy day in Washington DC in support of legal protections for songwriters and publishers in a streaming music economy. One of the top priorities for the group is arguing for an update to its consent decree with the Department of Justice. Continue Reading
ASCAP, one of the major performing rights organizations (PROs) representing songwriters, publishers, and composers, has reached the end of an investigation by the Department of Justice, settling matters for $1.75-million, while admitting no wrongdoing. It traces back to the Pandora rate-setting case. Continue Reading
ASCAP posted more than $1 billion in revenue for the second consecutive year, but its total payouts to the music industry declined from 2014. The performing rights organization posted revenue of $1.014 billion in 2015, up slightly from its 2014 results, when revenue scraped past $1 billion for the first time. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Legal expert criticizes consent decree changes; SoundCloud tips for new listeners; visualizing media’s digital upheaval. Continue Reading
On the Move tracks hires, promotions, and other notable personnel changes within the online audio industry. Today’s moves include new C-suite announcements from ASCAP and Warner Music Group. Continue Reading
On the Move tracks hires, promotions, and other notable personnel changes within the online audio industry. Today’s moves include new high-level hires at Univision and SESAC, while ASCAP and Xaxis announced promotions from within the ranks. Continue Reading
Pandora announced breakthrough content licensing deals this morning with ASCAP and BMI, the two largest Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) representing songwriters, publishers, and composers. With two separate multi-year agreements, Pandora puts to bed acrimonious lawsuits that have troubled its key relationships for two years. Continue Reading
On the Move tracks hires, promotions, and other notable personnel changes within the online audio industry. Today’s moves find two former Viacom execs taking up new posts at ASCAP and at Warner/Chappell. Continue Reading
ASCAP has added information about the share of public performance rights it controls to its publicly available online ACE Database. According to the press release announcing the update, the database changes will support ASCAP’s request to the Justice Department for its members to have greater choice to withdraw certain digital rights. Continue Reading