A Major Compromise Has Been Reached on the Music Modernization Act

Performance rights organization SESAC, the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) and various other groups have now reached a resolution over a serious Music Modernization Act (MMA) impasse. The following is a developing story; please chec…

What is the Music Modernization Act and Why Should it Pass

The copyright laws of the US were written over hundred years ago. 1908 to be exact. Long before the internet was even conceived of. Let alone streaming. Music law was written during the era of player pianos when music was written on piano rolls. For ye…

Hit Songwriters Hit Back at SESAC: ‘Shame on You!’

“This is the strongest I’ve ever seen the songwriting community” – Ross Golan, hit songwriter, podcaster of ‘And The Writer Is…’ The Music Modernization Act recently passed the House by a 415-0 vote. It looked as if …

SESAC Doubles Down On Its MMA Protest — Here’s Their Statement

Despite heavy pressure from the NMPA and songwriters, SESAC and its owner, Blackstone Group, and doubling down on their MMA protest. Last week, SESAC and its parent company, Blackstone Group, issued a sharp counter-proposal to the Music Modernization A…

ASCAP Wins a $1.5 Million Ruling Against Three California Radio Stations

US-based radio stations already get a free pass on recording performances.  But that’s where the freebie ends. Federal courts in New York and Los Angeles have ruled in separate but related cases that Edward Stolz, owner of KFRH-FM, KREV-FM and KR…

Music Recognition Technology Will Generate Millions for Indie Artists — But Only If Distributors & PROs Play Ball

We’ve been reporting on some serious growth for in-venue music recognition technology, or MRT, particularly in Europe.  But MRT is expected to expand globally in 2019, with indie artists and DJs realizing substantially greater payouts in the future. No…

OCL Announces Agreements With Warner Music Group, Sony/ATV, Beggars

A variety of rights owners such as Warner Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, and Beggars Group have signed a licensing deal with tech company OCL. App developers will soon be able to access and host licensed music alongside user generated content, thank…

The Latest Ranking of Music Publisher Gold & Platinum Certifications

Who are the largest, most powerful music publishers?  That’s a complicated calculation.  But here’s an April certification ranking from the NMPA. As its name implies, the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) is a trade group for mus…

The Latest Ranking of Music Publisher Gold & Platinum Certifications

Who are the largest, most powerful music publishers?  That’s a complicated calculation.  But here’s an April certification ranking from the NMPA. As its name implies, the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) is a trade group for mus…