SoundExchange and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting have come to terms on new Internet royalty rates after almost a year of negotiation. According to the deal, SoundExchange will collect a one-time payment of $1.85 million to cover all royalties of music streamed online from Jan. 1 2005 to the end of 2010.
The agreement covers some 450 public radio webcasters. In addition to the payment, members of the CPB will also submit consolidated usage and playlist reporting, and NPR will withdraw it’s appeal of the May 2007 Copyright Royalty Board decision that initiated the dispute.
The deal is the first positive step in the ongoing dispute between webcasters and SoundExchange since the CRB ruling in some time. This deal covers only non-commercial Internet radio outlets. Negotiations continue between SoundExchange and commercial Internet radio entities, like Pandora, who are also disputing the new royalty fees set by the CRB’s ruling, which webcasters say would put them out of business if enforced.
