ASCAP, YouTube Make A Deal

ASCAP and YouTube inked a multiyear agreement on public performance rights and data collaboration that is expected to help the performance rights organization identify members’ works on the streaming platform and get them paid for it.

– ASCAP

The deal, announced June 13, covers works streamed on YouTube since the 2013 establishment of a “compulsory interim license” with ASCAP, according to Variety. It will provide better transparency, more detailed information than what was provided under the PRO’s blanket license and internal payment formula.

“This agreement achieves two important ASCAP goals – it will yield substantially higher overall compensation for our members from YouTube and will continue to propel ASCAP’s ongoing transformation strategy to lead the industry toward more accurate and reliable data,” ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews said.

“YouTube is dedicated to ensuring artists, publishers and songwriters are fairly compensated,” said Lyor Cohen, global head of music at YouTube. “As YouTube delivers more revenue to the music industry through a combination of subscription and advertising revenue, it’s great to see ASCAP take a progressive approach towards the long term financial success of its members.”

Variety reports that BMI, another performance rights organization, has a direct license with YouTube and is now “looking at a long-term agreement.”

But Global Music Rights, the PRO founded by Irving Azoff, remains at loggerheads with YouTube.

“GMR is always willing to negotiate with any company who will pay songwriters a fair and equitable rate,” Azoff told Pollstar via email. “GMR is not licensed with YouTube because YouTube is not in that category.”