Quantcast

Marty

THE KING OF PUBLISHING SPEAKS OUT: We told you recently that Sony/ATV chieftain Marty Bandier has been publicly discussing withdrawing from ASCAP and BMI if their consent decrees (first entered into in 1941 and not modified in the current era) can’t be amended to let publishers partially withdraw their rights in order to negotiate better streaming rates. A recent rate court decision said it was all or nothing. Sony/ATV has urged the Justice Department to review the decision, and that process has begun; a comment period is open through 8/6 and we could see a decision by year's end. Bandier notes that writers’ income from streaming “is totally insufficient to make up for what’s dropping like a lead bomb,” i.e. retail sales. Current licensing schemes advantage recording over song by as much as 14-1, he says. “We’re not asking the record companies be reduced, but we think our content is more valuable than 1/14 of what they get.” Streaming services like Pandora, he adds, “make money at incredible rates while the songwriters are starving. These writers have had their 401(k)s wiped out” by the loss of income they could formerly count on. Bandier says he hopes the DOJ recommends a revision enabling more flexibility, but that Sony/ATV has been preparing a plan to operate without the PROs if necessary. In such a case, he promises, “Our songwriters will have the benefit of more efficient, transparent and hopefully more equitable rates for their lives’ work.” UMPG and BMG have expressed similar sentiments of late, and ASCAP has urged the flexibility plan, for obvious reasons. (7/16p)

NEAR TRUTHS: KINGDOMS
File under: The enemy of my enemy is my friend. (3/26a)
ONE SHINING HITS LIST
She shoots, she scores! (3/26a)
YTD MARKET SHARE
Zeroing in on the elite teams (3/27a)
BEST IN THE WEST:
STEVE BERMAN
High time for another Eminem skit (3/26a)
MUSIC REVENUE TOPPED $17B IN 2023: RIAA
Streaming subscriptions lead the charge. (3/27a)
THE NEW UMG
Gosh, we hope there are more press releases.
TIKTOK BANNED!
Unless the Senate manages to make this whole thing go away, that is.
THE NEW HUGE COUNTRY ACT
No, not that one.
TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PLAYLIST
Now 100% unlicensed!
 Email

 First Name

 Last Name

 Company

 Country
CAPTCHA code
Captcha: (type the characters above)