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<img class="alignright wp-image-2331 size-medium" src="https://copyrightcontentplatforms.bakerhostetlerblogs.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2016/02/soundexchange-300x112.png" alt="soundexchange" width="300" height="112" />On January 22, 2016, the Copyright Royalty Board published SoundExchange’s notices of intent to audit broadcasters — including Beasley Broadcast Group Inc., Greater Media Inc., Saga Communications Inc., Townsquare MediaBroadcasting, and Univision Communications Inc. — and commercial webcasters — including Pandora Media Inc., Batanga, DMX, and Muzak Inc. — for payments each made to SoundExchange pursuant to certain statutory licenses.

SoundExchange is the government-sanctioned organization charged with (1) collecting royalty payments for digital transmission of copyrighted sound recordings by services such as the broadcasters and commercial webcasters named above and (2) distributing those royalties to the copyright owners. 

Because the royalty reporting and payment system for these uses can be fraught with oversights and miscalculations, SoundExchange may audit a licensee in order to verify that the number of performances has been accurately reported and the proper amount of royalties paid for the music used. For digital transmissions, determining whether music is performed and/or experienced by a listener is not always easy; technical questions about streaming, disrupted connections, and IP addresses are often examined. The audit must be conducted by a CPA, and the licensee must be given a chance to respond and make corrections before the audit is submitted to SoundExchange. If underpayment is found, SoundExchange may assess penalties, ranging from a late fee to, for cases where underpayment is over 10 percent, the cost of the audit itself..

<img class="alignleft wp-image-2330 size-medium" src="https://copyrightcontentplatforms.bakerhostetlerblogs.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2016/02/music-first-300x157.png" alt="music first" width="300" height="157" />Standards for calculating digital transmission royalties are an issue of recent debate and a topic discussed by the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress in its recent report titled “Copyright Licensing in Music Distribution, Reproduction and Public Performance.” The Copyright Royalty Board calculates the royalty rate applicable to “compulsory” licenses for music, including for digital transmission of music. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) established different standards for these compulsory licenses, depending on the type of digital audio service and whether such service existed at the time of the DMCA’s enactment (1998). Pre-1998 providers pay a rate based on the factors listed in section 801(b) of the Copyright Act, whereas post-1998 providers are subject to the “willing buyer/willing seller” standard. As a result, post-1998 subscription services such as Pandora pay substantially more royalty fees than others such as Sirius/XM radio do. The Fair Play Fair Pay Act of 2015 would require the <img class="alignright wp-image-2329 size-full" src="https://copyrightcontentplatforms.bakerhostetlerblogs.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2016/02/internet-radio.png" alt="internet radio" width="173" height="170" />Copyright Royalty Board to apply the willing buyer/willing seller standard across the board. The Internet Radio Fairness Act of 2012, sponsored by companies like Pandora, takes the opposite approach, proposing to eliminate the current willing buyer/willing seller standard and apply the section 801(b) factors to all digital audio service providers. However, organizations like SoundExchange oppose such legislation, as it would promote the payment of less than fair market value for music. The results of SoundExchange’s audit may contribute to this debate and shape the evolution of SoundExchange’s position on issues of digital transmission royalties, reporting, and fair compensation for artists and copyright owners.

SoundExchange to Audit Pandora and Others to Ensure Accurate Reporting of Music Plays