Music Publishers Urge Congress to Reform Copyright Act

NMPA's letter seeks to end outdated royalty system and counter Spotify's bundling tactics.

The National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA) has sent a letter to Congress calling for an overhaul of the Copyright Act's statutory license.
The current system, established over a century ago, prevents songwriters and publishers from negotiating royalty rates in a free market.
Spotify's recent bundling of music and audiobooks has led to lower royalty payments for songwriters, intensifying the dispute.
The NMPA argues that tech giants like Spotify exploit the compulsory licensing system to underpay creators.
Proposed changes would allow rightsholders to opt out of the statutory system and negotiate directly with streaming services.