Washington, D.C. — January 15, 2021 — Today the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a closing decision following their review of the consent decrees that govern ASCAP and BMI, the two performing rights organizations that collectively control 90 percent of the U.S. marketplace for licensing the right to publicly perform musical works.
The following statement may be attributed to the MIC Coalition:
The MIC Coalition is extremely pleased with today’s announcement. The announcement essentially reconfirms the finding of the previous Administration which concluded that the music industry has, “developed in the context of, and in reliance on, [the ASCAP and BMI] consent decrees and that they therefore should remain in place.” We could not agree more with such sentiments. The ASCAP and BMI consent decrees guarantee a competitive and efficient licensing regime that benefits songwriters and music licensees, alike.
Maintaining this framework will ensure that millions of American businesses can efficiently and fairly pay for the right to play and perform live and recorded music, which is crucial as venues struggle to open their doors again in the wake of the pandemic, and as more Americans access music from an ever-growing array of platforms.
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About MIC Coalition
MIC (pronounced “Mike”, as in “Microphone”) Coalition is a group of associations whose members provide music in retail establishments, hotels, restaurants, bars, wineries and taverns throughout the country, as well as over the nation’s airwaves and the internet. The Coalition is committed to a rational, sustainable and transparent system that will drive the future of music and ensure that consumers have continued access to music across a variety of platforms, venues and services.
Coalition Members include: American Beverage Licensees, American Hotel & Lodging Association, Brewers Association, Computer & Communications Industry Association, Consumer Technology Association, Digital Media Association, International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), International Association of Venue Managers, Meeting Professionals International (MPI), National Association of Broadcasters, National Association of Theatre Owners, National Restaurant Association, The National Religious Broadcasters Music License Committee, National Retail Federation, Radio Music License Committee, Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO) and WineAmerica.
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