ASCAP announced a new five-year agreement with the Radio Music License Committee. This deal sets the public performance fee rates to be paid by commercial terrestrial radio stations for the rights to play ASCAP’s repertory across the years 2017-2021. Continue Reading
Tidal has been boasting that it had access to stream music from the late and great Prince, but the performer’s estate is raising an eyebrow about those claims. The estate says that Tidal was only permitted to stream Prince’s most recent albums rather than the entire catalog. Continue Reading
Consent decrees are back in the headlines. This time, it’s because the Department of Justice is appealing the decision by federal Judge Louis Stanton about fractional licensing. The DoJ response means that the second circuit court of appeals will hear the case. Continue Reading
Facebook is hiring for a director of global music licensing partnerships. The social network is looking for candidates to “lead music licensing strategy and negotiations with rights holders throughout the world” and “ensure a comprehensive music strategy.” Continue Reading
BMI’s rate court has issued a ruling in favor of the performing rights organization in assessing the Department of Justice’s recent consent decree review. U.S. District Judge Louis Stanton of New York has rejected the 100% licensing provision recently handed down by the DoJ. Continue Reading
Revelator, a B2B music tech startup, has raised $2.5 million. The company is the latest to try pushing into the field of digital distribution, sales, licensing, and analytics. This round will support its efforts in global expansion. Continue Reading
Spotify is reportedly engaged in a juggling act over its licensing deals with the major labels. According to The Wall Street Journal, the streaming service is running off short-term extensions of its agreements with all three of the major labels. As Spotify continues to move toward a potential IPO, getting all its ducks in a row for these complex legal questions is a must. Continue Reading
YouTube has inked a deal with the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency, marking a step toward increased rights management for the online video platform in the northern nation. CMRRA will license the copies of audiovisual content made by YouTube in the process of delivering that content to its audience. Continue Reading
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
SESAC and Swiss collecting society SUISA have collaborated on a new joint venture in licensing and rights administration for digital music services. Mint Digital Licensing is a multi-territory platform that will issue single source licenses for the reproduction, distribution, and performance rights for the combined groups’ catalogs. Continue Reading
Pandora made two announcements this week centered on its interactions with the industry. First, the company has partnered with Music Reports, a rights administration platform. Second, Pandora hired a new Head of Publisher Licensing and Relations. Continue Reading
A new agreement for SoundCloud will expand its library available for Europe. The audio company entered a tie-up with Universal Music Publishing International and the Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers of Music (SACEM) in France. The licensing deal covers SoundCloud’s new Go subscription service and its free, ad-supported listening. Continue Reading