The uncertainty regarding the rates that commercial radio broadcasters will pay to play music in the repertory of SESAC, Inc. (SESAC) is over. Following extensive negotiations, the Radio Music License Committee (RMLC) and SESAC reached a new agreement extending the rates and terms of their existing music license agreement for commercial radio stations. That comes … Continue Reading
If you are a commercial radio station that authorized the Radio Music License Committee (RMLC) to represent you in negotiations and litigation against SESAC, then you need to act quickly to receive the full fruits of the RMLC’s labor. Unless you return an executed copy of the RMLC-SESAC radio license to SESAC by March 26, … Continue Reading
Attention, noncommercial educational (NCE, a/k/a “public”) broadcasters! If you have been wondering how much you’ll have to pay to broadcast musical compositions this year (and beyond), wonder no more. The rates for 2018 through 2022 were published in the Federal Register on January 19. For those new to the issue, these rates have been administered … Continue Reading
(Stations will pay 60% less than old SESAC rate card) While the fight between the Radio Music License Committee (RMLC) and Global Music Rights (GMR) has captured music licensing headlines in 2016 and 2017 (including here at Commlawblog), it has previously been RMLC v. SESAC which stole the show. (Recall that until GMR came on … Continue Reading
Dueling letters from SESAC and RMLC offer distinct alternatives for radio stations in their dealings with SESAC As we reported several months ago, in July the Radio Music License Committee (RMLC) reached a settlement agreement with SESAC that resolved RMLC’s antitrust lawsuit against SESAC and brought some measure of certainty and stability to the license … Continue Reading
Props to Bill Velez for striking a good deal for the radio industry! Bill Velez and the gang at the Radio Music License Committee (RMLC) have struck again. Having targeted SESAC in an antitrust suit in 2012, they have now used the leverage of that suit to gain a settlement with SESAC that should prove … Continue Reading
In a report on "Copyright and the Music Marketplace", the Copyright Office has set out a wide range of observations and recommendations that could resonate for years in Congress and elsewhere.… Continue Reading
If you're a TV licensee looking to collect from the SESAC litigation, make sure you keep an eye out for a form you should be getting from the Television Music License Committee.… Continue Reading
There is cause for optimism with respect to the possibility of bringing SESAC under the same type of judicial control as ASCAP and BMI are subject to.… Continue Reading
Last April the Copyright Royalty Board sought comment on various proposals for NCE royalty rates for 2013-2017, but its notice didn't mention proposed rates for NPR or PBS stations. Now we know why.… Continue Reading
If you're a noncommercial broadcaster, heads up. You've only got 30 days to comment on proposed rates and terms for the use of various copyrighted works by public broadcasters from 2013 through 2017.… Continue Reading
