The U.S. Department of Justice recently convened a series of workshops to review “competition in licensing in public performance rights.” For a government agency considering seismic changes to music licensing laws, it was well-intentioned and an appropriate exercise. Regrettably, however, the conversation lacked the critical perspective of numerous voices, including the music streaming services and…
Billboard
Garrett Levin
DOJ Must Preserve Consent Decrees to Protect Music Consumer Choice
Morning Consult
John Bodnovich (American Beverage Licensees), Shannon Meade (National Restaurant Association) & Tara Good (WineAmerica)
When a customer walks into a bar, restaurant, hotel, brewery or winery, they’re focused on enjoying the experience, not the intricacies of music licensing. Instead, hundreds of thousands of public hospitality venues across the nation are responsible for purchasing a music license from performing rights organizations, like ASCAP and BMI, through a confusing, opaque and…
RIAA, NMPA, Recording Academy and More Announce Support for Music Modernization Act, Other Legislation
Variety
Paula Parisi
More than 20 prominent music organizations representing U.S. music publishers, record labels, songwriters, composers, artists and performance rights organizations today formally announced their united support for pending music bills, paving the way for a unified piece of music legislation for 2018.