Music Industry Officials Agree on Need for Licensing Rule Changes, but Little Else

The complex system of music licensing came under attack in a congressional hearing, as entertainment and media executives pleaded for changes to how music rights were acquired and paid for online and by radio and television stations. Yet the executives offered little common ground about how to solve the problems they highlighted, and repeatedly clashed with one another during two and a half hours of testimony -- giving lawmakers a preview of how difficult it may be to satisfy all parties in the rapidly evolving but fractious music market. The hearing, before a House Judiciary subcommittee, was part of a broad review of copyright led by full Committee Chairman Robert Goodlatte (R-VA).