Recorded music rights PRO SoundExchange has reached a settlement agreement with NPR and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) on royalty rates for the next five years for webcasting by public radio stations.
This is SoundExchange’s second settlement agreement in five months with noncommercial webcasters. In October 2014, SoundExchange reached an agreement with College Broadcasters Inc., which represents college media outlets. The agreement ensures that noncommercial webcasters at colleges and other educational institutions will continue to have a consistent royalty framework and that the artists and rights holders who recorded the music that educational webcasters play are compensated.
The settlements, if adopted by the Copyright Royalty Board later this year, will be in effect for the years 2016-2020.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, non-profit corporation created by Congress in 1967, helps support the operations of more than 1,400 locally-owned and -operated public television and radio stations nationwide in the US.
NPR provides non-commercial news and entertainment programming in the U.S. More than 27 million people listen to NPR programs each week via 800+ radio stations throughout the country.
“We always prefer negotiated solutions with digital services, provided that they ensure appropriate payment to artists and rights holders. We are pleased that we have again reached an agreement with NPR and CPB. This agreement recognizes the unique circumstances and missions of these organizations, and compensates the creators of the music used in their programing,” said Michael Huppe, president and chief executive officer of SoundExchange (pictured).
“The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is pleased that we, together with NPR and SoundExchange have reached an agreement on Internet streaming of sound recordings by public radio stations funded by CPB that recognizes the unique nature of public radio and the vital service it provides to the American people,” said Pat Harrison, president and CEO, CPB.
“We are pleased to again collaborate with SoundExchange to come up with a framework for royalties that provides artists and rights holders with fair compensation while recognizing public radio’s distinctive public service and nonprofit operating model,” said NPR CEO Jarl Mohn. “The agreement is a testament to public radio’s significant contributions to musicians, artists, audiences and cultural programming in today’s dynamic music environment.” [Music Business Worldwide]
