Last spring the U.S. Copyright Office solicited input on the role of performing rights organizations (PROs) in music licensing. The Brewers Association (BA) has long advocated for a more transparent and fair music licensing system. The BA accordingly submitted comments to the Copyright Office, as did the MIC Coalition, of which the BA is a member.

The Copyright Office evaluated the 5,000+ comments received and recently sent a letter and summary of comments to Congress summarizing its findings. The BA’s comments were cited twice, including the primary citation for the BA’s request for the creation of a central, comprehensive PRO repertoire database. Comments of the MIC Coalition were also cited multiple times by the Copyright Office.

The letter does not require Congress to legislate on this subject. Nevertheless, the BA is pleased that the letter reiterates the Copyright Office’s central principles with respect to music licensing:

1. Music creators should be fairly compensated for their contributions.
2. The licensing process should be more efficient.
3. Market participants should have access to authoritative data to identify and license sound recordings and musical works.
4. Usage and payment information should be transparent and accessible to rightsowners.

Despite considerable opposition from the music industry and some PRO organizations, the BA will continue to advocate for changes in federal policy towards PROs to mitigate the proliferation of required music licenses and the lack of transparency needed to understand what PRO covers what artists and songs.