Recent Advocacy News

From News, posted 10.11.18. Today, the Orrin G. Hatch-Bob Goodlatte Music Modernization Act was signed into law by President Trump, marking a historic moment for the music industry. Notably, this legislation recognizes the essential contributions of the songwriters and composers at its core, who will see significant and deserved benefit, while streamlining the use of… Read more...

From News, posted 9.25.18. BMI’s President and CEO, Mike O’Neill, responds to the Music Modernization Act unanimously passing the House of Representatives this evening: “Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the final version of the Music Modernization Act, now known as the Orrin G. Hatch-Bob Goodlatte Music Modernization Act. We are now one step… Read more...

From News, posted 9.17.18. BMI is pleased to announce that longtime PRS for Music executive Karen Buse is joining BMI as Managing Director, European Society Relations, effective immediately. She will be based in BMI’s London office and report to Ann Sweeney, Senior Vice President, International & Global Policy. In this newly-created role, Buse will work… Read more...

From News, posted 8.23.18. Read BMI’s statement regarding a key development for the Music Modernization Act: “We’re excited to now have 60 Senate co-sponsors for the Music Modernization Act.  It’s an incredible milestone, but we’d love to see a unanimous vote, just as we saw in the House.  For the first time in… Read more...

From News, posted 7.24.18. Today, BMI issued a statement regarding the current issues surrounding the Music Modernization Act: The Music Modernization Act represents an historic opportunity to enact meaningful music licensing reform. The bill is the product of unprecedented collaboration among music stakeholders and passed unanimously through the House Judiciary Committee, the full House, and… Read more...

From News, posted 5.17.18. The Radio Music License Committee (RMLC) filed a petition this evening in the federal rate court to resolve its ongoing rate dispute with BMI (Broadcast Music Inc.). Mike Steinberg, Executive Vice President, Licensing & Creative, BMI, made the following comment: “BMI has spent more than two years attempting to negotiate… Read more...

From News, posted 3.20.18. Yesterday marked the deadline for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to file an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court regarding BMI’s favorable consent decree ruling. With no such action taken, the final decision of the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit stands that BMI is free to continue to… Read more...

From News, posted 1.26.18. In response to a deal between NAB and ASCAP and BMI to resolve broadcast concerns with the Music Modernization Act, the following statement was issued today from NAB President & CEO Gordon Smith, ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews and BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill: “We are extremely happy to announce… Read more...

From News, posted 1.24.18. Today, a bipartisan group of nine senators including Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.) and Kamala Harris (D-CA), introduced the Music Modernization Act in the U.S. Senate. The proposed legislation would set up… Read more...

From News, posted 12.21.17. Today, Congressmen Doug Collins (R-GA) and Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) introduced the Music Modernization Act of 2017. This bill represents months of collaboration between BMI, and other organizations representing songwriters, composers, and publishers such as NMPA, ASCAP, NSAI, and SONA, and the music user community. The bill is designed to benefit American… Read more...