The European Commission is considering a legislative pivot from “national treatment” to strict copyright “reciprocity,” jeopardizing nearly $300 million in annual European public performance royalties for US creators. Historically, the 2020 RAAP ruling mandated equitable remuneration for all performers across the EU, effectively neutralizing the fact that the US does not pay terrestrial broadcast performance royalties. Currently, 21 of the 27 EU member states process these payments based on this rules-based international framework. A coalition of major US rights organizations warns that dismantling this standard will severely fragment global royalty flows.
By weaponizing the lack of an American terrestrial radio performance right, the EU is positioning itself to retain hundreds of millions in domestic neighboring rights pools. This legislative friction may serve as the ultimate catalyst for the US to finally close its broadcast royalty loophole, or else face compounding losses in international revenue streams.
Curated by MusicResearch.com from Digital Music News. Read the full article at: Reciprocity Rears Its Ugly Head Again: Major US Rights Orgs Warn $300M in European Annual Recording Payments About to Get Cut Off
