What You Need to Know about Music Licensing

A discussion that will move from Music Rights 101 to some of today’s Hot Topics, including the Music Modernization Act, potential future Congressional copyright reform, the DOJ review of the ASCAP and BMI consent decrees, the rise of new PROs, and the next Copyright Royalty Board proceeding.

AGENDA

6:00 – 6:05 p.m.         Welcome and Introductions

 6:05 – 7:05 p.m.         The Basics

What is the difference between a musical composition and a sound recording?  What do ASCAP, BMI and SESAC do, and how are they different from SoundExchange?  How does my client get rights to use music on the air, on its website and in its mobile application, at station sponsored live events and in commercials?  Can advertisers play a radio station at their business without any rights fees?  How are the fees set for these different kinds of music uses?  These and other basic questions about music rights will be set in this first panel.

Moderator:
Kathryne Dickerson, Special Counsel, Wiley Rein LLP

Speakers:
Karyn Ablin, Member, Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth, P.L.C.
Michelle Choe, Associate, Covington & Burling LLP
John Simson, Executive in Residence and Program Director, Business & Entertainment, Kogod School of Business, American University

7:05 – 7:15 p.m.         Break

 7:15 – 8:15 p.m.         The Hot Issues

The Music Modernization Act, review of the ASCAP and BMI antitrust consent decrees, setting streaming royalties, the impact of new PROs, publisher withdrawals, ISP liability for illegal downloads, and the broadcast performance royalties are all topics that media companies are all talking about.  What are these issues and how will they be resolved?  These “hot” issues in music licensing, including legislative and Copyright Office review of these issues, will be discussed in this second panel.

Moderator:
David Oxenford, Partner, Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP

Speakers:
Cynthia Greer, Vice President and Assoc. General Counsel, Sirius XM
Greg Barnes, General Counsel and VP Government Affairs, Digital Media Association
Shawn Donilon, Vice President for Government Relations, National Association of Broadcasters
Richard Conlon, Chief Corporate Development Officer, Sound Exchange