SONGWRITERS SUE DOJ OVER NEW RULES

The nascent Songwriters of North America group is suing the Justice Department over its recent ruling regarding how songwriters may collaborate, claiming a new rule is a violation of the Fifth Amendment, by The New York Times has reported.

The Songwriters of North America argue that the Justice Department’s decision that ASCAP and BMI must have 100% licensing, i.e. legal clearance to represent all contributors to a song, violates decades-long practices such as private contracts between writers. While the music publishing community has been up in arms over the ruling, it is the first organized response from music’s creative community.

Songwriter Michelle Lewis, who formed the group, was joined by Tom Kelly (“True Colors,” “Like a Virgin”) and Pam Sheyne (“Genie in a Bottle”) in filing the suit today. Lawyers Jacqueline C. Charlesworth and Gerard P. Fox represent the Songwriters of North America.

BMI plans to challenge the rule in federal court at a hearing on Friday.