Songwriter Groups Want Their Voices Heard on CRB Royalty Rate ASAP
The organizations signing the letter are: the Songwriters Guild of America, the Society of Composers & Lyricists, the Alliance for Woman Film Composers, the Songwriters Assn. of Canada, the Screen composers Guild of Canada, Music Answers; and Music Creators North America and several international organizations.
According to the second letter to the judges, the CRB responded to the first letter by saying it is planning to publish the settlement in the Federal Register for public comments.
In that letter, the orgs beseeched the judges to ensure that the independent music creator community have the ability to file comments in a timely manner.
In its first letter, the songwriter organizations reminded that the 2-cent mechanical rate was in effect from 1909-1978; and noted that if the undisclosed pending settlement rate is in fact the re-application of the 9.1 cents rate that has been applied since 2006, that would mean that the rate would be in effect for just over 20 years when the 2023-2027 term ends. It adds the claim that inflation has already devalued the 9.1 cent rate; and likely would continue to do so.
