The deadline has passed for radio stations to take, or leave, a temporary licensing deal with Irving Azoff’s Global Music Rights group. The temporary license was offered by GMR as the two sides battle in court over what radio should eventually pay for the rights to GMR’s recordings.
GMR’s Randy Grimmett told Radio Ink last night that at least six major groups, in addition to deals worked out earlier with iHeartMedia and Townsquare, have taken GMR’s licensing proposal. Grimmett said, “Many radio stations across the US have opted into an interim license with GMR. This includes Cumulus, CBS, Saga Communications, Emmis, and Cox Media. Radio stations who signed and pay for the interim license are authorized to play the music GMR represents until the end of September 2017. The term of the license is January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017.”
Playing a GMR song without a license could cost you $150,000 per song. If you try to remove all GMR recordings, you’ll have to remember that includes music in commercials, syndicated programming, or any other programming that might be using GMR.
