Music industry in-fighting is now giving way to group hugging. Yesterday, we first reported that a brand-new Copyright Directive had been approved in the European Union. The Directive, which contains the controversial Article 13, is now being shuttled…
Category archives: Legislative
After Two Years of EU Deliberations, Article 13 Text Is Finalized — And Headed for a Vote
The finalized Article 13 text is either a breakthrough, a disaster, or something in-between — depending on the organization you talk to. It’s done. After more than two years of EU deliberations, thousands of hours of hearings and endless debates, a fin…
U.S. Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) Officially Submits a 44% Songwriter Streaming Royalty Increase — Publishers Say a Spotify Challenge Would be ‘Declaring War’
The U.S. Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) has officially published a significant streaming royalty rate increase for songwriters and publishers. Will it be challenged? Last year, songwriters and publishers scored a major increase in streaming royalty rat…
The NMPA Submits Their Mechanical Licensing Committee (MLC) Proposal — And Calls for a No-Bid Contract
Who should collect, count, and administer mechanical licenses for songwriters and publishers under the Music Modernization Act? Major publishers say there shouldn’t be a selection process — as they’ve already amassed a majority coalition of the indust…
Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of KISS Are Serving Free Meals to Unpaid Government TSA Workers
Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of KISS have announced that all TSA employees can eat free at their Rock & Brews restaurants. TSA employees can choose between a pulled pork sandwich or a strawberry fields salad at the restaurant. Many of the duo’s R…
The AMLC Is Aggressively Moving Forward to Implement the Music Modernization Act
Despite rumors of anti-competitive threats, the American Music Licensing Collective (AMLC) is aggressively moving forward and seeking qualified tech partners. President Trump may have signed the Music Modernization Act (MMA) into law. But he’s also th…
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Cancels His CES Keynote for the Second Year In a Row
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is kicking off in Las Vegas next week minus a few U.S. government attendees. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai was scheduled to make an appearance but has canceled for the second year in a row. The Chairman and Commissioner Bren…
RIAA Formally Names Mitch Glazier as CEO & Chairman
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has a new CEO and chairman. Mitch Glazier will assume the new role as CEO and chairman after serving as a senior staffer for the House Judiciary Committee. Glazier’s appointment replaces Cary Sherman…
Wixen Music Publishing Settles Its Monster $1.6 Billion Lawsuit Against Spotify
A year-long lawsuit with estimated damages of $1.6 billion has now been settled. Last year, Digital Music News broke the news that Wixen Music Publishing had filed a massive, $1.6 billion-plus lawsuit against Spotify. Interestingly, the lawsuit was …
U.S. Department of Justice Bans Bump Stocks Used in the Route 91 Las Vegas Massacre
A year and a handful of months after the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, the government is finally banning bump stocks. The U.S. Department of Justice has now declared that any weapons modified with a bump stock will be classified as machine guns. The classi…