Radio Music Licensing Committee Reaches Interim Licensing Deal With Global Music Rights

Interim Deal

The performance rights group GLOBAL MUSIC RIGHTS (GMR) has reached a interim agreement with the RADIO MUSIC LICENSING COMMITTEE (RMLC), which will allow broadcasters a nine-month reprieve from potential copyright infringement lawsuits for playing music from GMR's repertoire.

In a letter to broadcasters, RMLC Chairman ED CHRISTIAN noted that stations have until JANUARY 31st, 2017 to accept the interim deal, which runs through SEPTEMBER 30th, 2017. "Any station that signs the interim license agreement by JANUARY 31st, 2017 and pays the applicable interim license fees will not be subject to copyright infringement claims  by GMR for the term of the interim license."

Stations are urged to "contact GMR to determine [their] specific fee for that interim license ... that means GMR and you each retains the right to seek a retroactive fee adjustment in future licenses or as a result of the current litigations."

The agreement also dictates the swapping of data. GMR will provide stations a “full and complete list” of all compositions in its catalog, while stations will provide GMR with “substantially the same level and quality of data information it provides to any third party PRO from time to time.”

You can see a copy of the interim agreement here.

Global Music Rights Responds

Attorney DAN PETROCELLI of O'MELVENY & MYERS, who represents GMR, offered the following statement:

"Today, GMR has offered a license to all radio stations represented by the RMLC allowing the stations to play GMR’s repertoire in exchange for specified license fees. This license extends through SEPTEMBER 30th, 2017 and gives everyone additional time to negotiate long-term licenses with GMR. GMR offered this license to the RMLC last month,  but the RMLC refused it and, instead, chose to sue and seek an injunction. With today’s agreement, the RMLC has withdrawn its request for an injunction and radio stations across the country will have the opportunity to offer their listeners GMR’s quality music.”

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