The NAB tells us a letter has gone out to Senators Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer urging the Senate to pass the Music Modernization Act. The MMA has passed both the entire House of Representatives and Senate Judiciary Committee. The letter is from broadcasters associations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Here are the details…
Broadcasters are happy the Senate Judiciary Committee included language to formalize congressional oversight of the Department of Justice’s review of the antitrust consent decrees governing ASCAP and BMI. “Unwarranted changes or termination of these decrees that form the backbone of the music licensing marketplace would have a drastic impact on all who publicly perform music, from local broadcast stations, to digital music services, to bars and restaurants, ultimately restricting access to music and harming consumers.”
The broadcasters say by establishing meaningful congressional oversight of DOJ’s review, the MMA will help prevent the marketplace chaos that would result from DOJ seeking termination of these decrees without a sufficient alternative framework in place.
The broadcasters, of course, are also happy the MMA does not include any new performance royalty on AM/FM radio.
