Music Rights Management Newsletter No. 6

Intro

On the TuneRegistry platform we're introducing the ability to record your unique Work identifiers that are assigned after registration, and we are continuing to build out the system billing functions. 

Notable news this week includes:

• Copyright Royalty Board Asked to Approve 32% Increase in Mechanical Royalties 
• Music Creators Take to Capital for Grammy's On The Hill Advocacy 
• Do the Royalties Go On? Asks Judge in Sonny & Cher Copyright Case
• Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber Sued for Copyright Infringement over 10,000 Hours

Help Articles

Billing

Learn how billing works and how to manage your account

Updating ISWC, WorkID and HFA/MLC SongCode

How to correct or supply your unique work identifiers after registration

Release Notes

A running log of system updates and modifications

In the News

Copyright Royalty Board Asked to Approve 32% Increase on Mechanical Royalties 

This new settlement gives songwriters a 32% raise on sales of vinyl, CDs and downloads — raising the rate from 9.1 cents to 12 cents — and critically also includes a yearly cost of living adjustment to address inflation. This extremely positive result is due in large part to the creators who made their voices heard in the CRB process. With this settlement filed, we clear the way to focus solely and tirelessly on raising streaming rates. As we battle the biggest companies in the world, who are pushing for the lowest royalty rates in history, songwriters and their advocates stand more united than ever.” — David Israelite, NMPA president and CEO 

Music Creators Take to Capital for Grammy’s On The Hill Advocacy Day 2022

Throughout Advocacy Day meetings, creators will urge support for several efforts, including those introduced by this year's congressional honorees. Deutch is the lead Democratic sponsor for the American Music Fairness Act, which, if passed, would pay royalties to artists and producers when their music is played on the radio. McCaul has co-sponsored key legislation like the Help Independent Tracks Succeed Act (HITS Act), which updates the federal tax code to bring in line music production with other industries and create parity. 

Do the Royalties Go On? Asks Judge in Sonny & Cher Copyright Case 

A judge said the result of a dispute between Cher and Sonny Bono's estate over Sonny & Cher royalties likely hinges on interpreting a narrow provision of federal copyright law, and asked the parties for more information on the issue following a hearing Monday in California federal court. 

Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber Sued for Copyright Infringement over 10,000 Hours 

The suit states the men “stole the core portion,” which includes the chorus, verse and hook from “The First Time Baby Is A Holiday.” “The First Time Baby Is A Holiday” was written in 1973, not registered until 1980, and was recorded in 2014 when it was re-registered because they slightly changed the song title.

Worthy Reads

 Facebook’s Rights Manager: Too Little, Too Late 

EU Court of Justice Rules Article 17 is Compatible With The Charter of Rights

Interesting Trends on the Euphoria TV Series that Drove Music Streaming

Vinyl, the Music Format That Came Back From the Dead

The Ed Sheeran Problem or, How The Record Industry Got What It Asked For

A Conversation w/ Merck Mercuriadis of Hipgnosis Song Fund 

Partner News

Seeking Suggestions for Board of Directors and Advisory Candidates 

There are openings on the Board of Directors for two (2) Publisher representatives. Under The MLC’s Bylaws, a “Publisher” means a music publisher to which songwriters have assigned exclusive rights of reproduction and distribution of musical works with respect to Covered Activities. “Covered Activities” means the making of digital phonorecord deliveries of musical works, including in the form of permanent downloads, limited downloads, or interactive streams, where such activity qualifies for a compulsory license under Section 115 of the U.S. Copyright Act. 

The openings on The MLC’s advisory committees are as follows: 

• Two (2) Publisher seats on the Unclaimed Royalties Oversight Committee, which recommends policies and procedures to The MLC’s Board related to the distribution of unclaimed accrued royalties; 
• One (1) Publisher seat on the Dispute Resolution Committee, which recommends to the Board policies and procedures for the processing of royalties related to works that are subject to disputes over ownership; and 
• Two (2) Publisher openings on the Operations Advisory Committee, which makes recommendations to the Board concerning the operations of the Collective, including the efficient investment in and deployment of information technology and data resources. 

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