New York, NY, June 6, 2012: The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and the Television Music License Committee, LLC, (TMLC) today announced a settlement in principle concerning the fees payable by U.S. local television stations for a license to publicly perform ASCAP’s over 8.5 million musical works through 2016.
The new agreement covers a seven-year period, retroactive from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2016. Its scope includes primary broadcasts, digital multicasts, Internet websites, and emerging wireless, mobile, and other digital platforms as part of the overall blanket license and will also provide stations with access to license documents electronically on both the TMLC and ASCAP websites.
ASCAP’s EVP of Licensing, Vincent Candilora, said: “We are pleased to have reached an agreement. This agreement reflects increases in ASCAP’s share of local television stations’ performances of music in recent years and the importance of music to the television viewing experience.”
Chuck Sennet, the Chair of the TMLC said: “This agreement reflects the environment local broadcasters face in the 21st Century: intense competition from cable, the Internet and other media, reduced audiences, and use of both broadcast and new media to reach our viewers with the news, information and entertainment programming they expect from us. We are pleased to have been able to reach agreement with ASCAP without protracted litigation.”
The TMLC represents over 1,200 local television stations and ASCAP represents over 435,000 songwriter, composer and publisher members.
About ASCAP
Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization (PRO) representing the world's largest repertory totaling over 8.5 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 435,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members. ASCAP has representation arrangements with similar foreign organizations so that the ASCAP repertory is represented in nearly every country around the world where copyright law exists. ASCAP protects the rights of its members and foreign affiliates by licensing the public performances of their copyrighted works and distributing royalties based upon surveyed performances. ASCAP is the only American PRO owned and governed by its writer and publisher members. www.ascap.com
Press Contacts:
Lauren Iossa
ASCAP
(212) 621-6226
liossa@ascap.com
Bobbi Marcus
Bobbi Marcus PR & Events, Inc.
(310) 889-9200
Bobbi.marcus@bobbimarcuspr.com
Will Hoyt
Television Music License Committee
(212) 308-9040
will@televisionmusic.com