Global Music Rights (GMR) & Music Licensing - Northern Michigan University

In response to recent station inquiries about Global Music Rights (“GMR”), we are providing some brief background and an update on our ongoing music licensing negotiations. 

What is GMR? 

GMR is a relatively new performance rights organization (“PRO”), like ASCAP and BMI, that represents songwriters, composers, and music publishers.  Although GMR is very small compared to ASCAP and BMI, it represents some prominent songwriters and publishers in its catalog.  These GMR clients used to be represented by ASCAP or BMI.  In recent years, GMR has been very active in contacting music users, including public media stations and universities, regarding license fees.

Is there a public broadcasting blanket music license with GMR? 

GMR did not participate in the prior Copyright Royalty Board (“CRB”) proceeding in which music licensing rates and terms were established for public broadcasting entities for the performance of musical works (i.e., a song’s underlying composition and any lyrics) for the years 2018 to 2022.  As a result, GMR currently is subject to the $1 royalty fee set by the CRB for use of musical works that are not the subject of the resulting license agreements with the participating PROs in that proceeding.  The $1 royalty applicable to GMR (and any conceivable other works not within the repertories of ASCAP, BMI or SESAC) is an annual fee covering the years 2018 – 2022.

What about public broadcasters’ use of GMR music after 2022? 

In a recent development, GMR filed to participate in the new CRB proceeding to establish rates and terms for public broadcasters’ use of musical works for the years 2023 to 2027.  (The current blanket over-the-air broadcast and non-interactive streaming rights arrangements for the performance of musical works will expire on December 31, 2022.)

As we reported earlier this year, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (“CPB”), NPR, and PBS also filed a joint petition to participate in this proceeding on behalf of CPB grantees and NPR and PBS affiliated stations.  As in previous years, ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and The Harry Fox Agency are also participating.  This is GMR’s first time participating.

The CRB proceeding initiates an opportunity to reach voluntary license agreements with the PROs, without having to participate in the CRB’s adjudicatory proceeding.  We are currently working closely with CPB and PBS to try to negotiate voluntary license agreements with all of the participating PROs, including GMR.  If we are unable to reach voluntary agreements, we will participate in a proceeding before the CRB’s board of Judges to set the royalty rates and terms. 

CPB has again agreed to pay the royalty fees on behalf of public radio and TV stations, including any royalties owed to GMR.  (Thank you CPB!)

What if GMR contacts my station or my university licensee?

We are aware that GMR has contacted some colleges and universities seeking payment of license fees for use of the songs in GMR’s catalog.  In some cases, the public performances that GMR is seeking to license are not related to NPR Member station operations; rather, GMR may be seeking to license university music performances, such as music broadcast on student-run campus radio stations not affiliated with NPR, or music used during university events, live concerts, theatrical performances, on-campus cable television systems, etc. 

If you receive a communication from GMR, the first step is to determine whether it relates to music use by your NPR Member station or to some other type of music use by your institutional licensee. 

• If the GMR contact relates to music use by your station (broadcasting or streaming), we ask that you share the communication with us as it may impact the larger negotiation with GMR that is taking place as part of the ongoing CRB proceeding.  Please send the communication to Briana Thibeau, at bthibeau@npr.org.
• If the GMR communication relates to the use of music by your institutional licensee, you may want to direct the inquiry to your licensee’s Office of General Counsel or other office that normally handles music licensing.

Want to learn more about public media’s blanket licenses? 

CPB provides more information about the public media blanket music license agreements with SoundExchange, ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and the Harry Fox Agency here: https://www.cpb.org/musicrights.

Many thanks to Briana Thibeau, NPR’s Deputy General Counsel, for her help with these FAQs and the ongoing CRB music licensing proceedings.  Please let us know if you have any questions.

   Joni Lupovitz (she/her) | Senior Director, Public Policy | jlupovitz@npr.org | 202.513.3652

   Marta McLellan Ross (she/her) | Vice President, Government & External Affairs| MRoss@npr.org | cell 202.805.1360