ASCAP has initiated federal litigation against four regional U.S. radio groups operating 15 stations across South Dakota, Indiana, Mississippi, and New Hampshire. The lawsuits stem from the broadcasters’ alleged multi-year refusal to renew their Radio Music Licensing Committee (RMLC) blanket licenses. These industry-standard agreements typically grant stations access to ASCAP’s 20-million-track repertory in exchange for a fee calculated as a minor percentage of total station revenue. Following unsuccessful resolution attempts, ASCAP formally terminated the licensing agreements to enforce copyright protections for its 1.1 million members.
This enforcement action signals a tightening of compliance oversight within the traditional terrestrial radio sector, where localized operators occasionally allow crucial performance licenses to lapse. By moving from negotiation to litigation, ASCAP reinforces the baseline economic framework that ensures roughly 90% of collected royalties flow directly to songwriters and publishers.
Curated by MusicResearch.com from Digital Music News. Read the full article at: ASCAP Litigates Against Four US-Based Radio Groups for ‘Prolonged Unauthorized Use of Members’ Music’
