The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) today announced a new settlement agreement with the Radio Music License Committee (RMLC) that secures higher rates payable by almost 10,000 of America’s commercial terrestrial radio stations to publicly perform more than 20 million musical works in the ASCAP repertory. The ASCAP repertory includes the vast array of music that keeps radio’s listeners tuning in, from today’s Top Ten hits to classic songs across all genres of music.

ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews commented: “This deal locks in an important royalty stream for our members at higher rates. It will deliver enhanced benefits, payments and financial certainty to ASCAP songwriters, composers and publishers, which is important to ensuring their creative and economic health and security now and in the future.”

The settlement agreement includes year-over-year increases in the percentage of revenue rate paid by radio stations to publicly perform music by ASCAP members and better reflects the ways in which AM/FM radio stations in the US currently broadcast and transmit music to their listeners, while recognizing the distinctions between the terrestrial radio industry and internet music services.

ASCAP represents more than one million songwriters, composers and music publisher members. Founded and governed by songwriter, composer and publisher members, ASCAP is the only performing rights organization in the U.S. that operates on a not-for-profit making basis and does not have outside investors or private equity ownership. ASCAP delivers 90 cents of every dollar collected back to its members as royalties, ensuring that ASCAP songwriters and publishers are the sole beneficiaries of revenues collected by ASCAP.

ASCAP thanks the members of the RMLC Licensing Committee for their time and attention to this important agreement.