Spotify, Google, Pandora, and Amazon are all appealing a U.S. Copyright Royalty Board ruling that would see songwriter royalty payouts increase by 44%; however, Apple isn’t appealing, reports Variety.
A joint statement from Spotify, Google, and Pandora reads: “The Copyright Royalty Board (CRB), in a split decision, recently issued the U.S. mechanical statutory rates in a manner that raises serious procedural and substantive concerns. If left to stand, the CRB’s decision harms both music licensees and copyright owners. Accordingly, we are asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to review the decision.”
The four companies all filed with the court separately. Sources tell Variety that Apple Music is alone among the major streaming services in not planning to appeal. David Israelite, president/CEO of the National Music Publishers’ Association, has praised the tech giant for its lack of opposition to the royalty payment increase.
“We thank Apple Music for accepting the CRB decision and continuing to be a friend to songwriters,” he said.
