Industry Noize: Azoff Challenges Performing Rights Market

The company, established as part of the Azoff MSG Entertainment joint venture that was brokered last year, has been building a catalog to challenge organizations like Ascap and BMI through Azoff’s representation of artists including Eagles, Van Halen, Fleetwood Mac, Pharrell Williams and many others.

Part of GMR’s appeal has focused on some artists’ frustration over low royalty rates and issues with how music is licensed online as Ascap and BMI are subject to regulatory agreements with the Justice Department.

Azoff told the New York Times his main focus has been to “take care of artists.”

“I tried to identify places where I felt that artists were not getting a fair deal, and the performance rights area jumped out at me. It was a place where I felt I could help our writers,” he said.

Sources reportedly close to negotiations in the company told the paper Global Music Rights has promised clients royalties up to 30 percent more than they’d receive through other performing rights organizations.

That’s because GMR isn’t governed by the same regulations as Ascap and BMI.

GMR is expected to secure higher rates from radio stations and online music streaming sites like Pandora by refusing to adopt practices held by longstanding performing rights agencies, the Times said.

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