Comprehensive Music Licensing Bill Expected Soon

U-S Rep. Bob Goodlatte, chairman of the powerful House Judiciary Committee, plans to introduce an umbrella music licensing bill in March, a clear indication that long-sought federal copyright reform could be enacted in 2018.

Goodlatte's staff briefed other Congressional staffers and key music industry stakeholders last week, multiple sources told The Tennessean.

According to sources who received the briefing, the broader bill from Goodlatte will include the Music Modernization Act, the Classics Act and the AMP Act. A House Judiciary aide said the committee expects to mark-up a package of copyright bills in the coming weeks, but provided no additional details.

The Music Modernization Act would overhaul the digital mechanical licensing process and lead to better payouts for songwriters, according to advocacy groups representing songwriters and publishers. The Music Modernization Act was filed after more than a year of negotiations, spearheaded by U.S. Rep. Doug Collins and Sen. Lamar Alexander, between songwriters, publishers and streaming companies.

The Classics Act would require digital radio companies to pay artists and labels royalties for songs recorded prior to 1972.  And the AMP Act would codify the existing practice of paying music producers compensation stemming from digital royalties earned by artists.

Those three bills have received the endorsement of a broad coalition of advocacy groups representing virtually every corner of the music industry.

Goodlatte has overseen roughly five years of hearings and debate about music copyright reform. The Virginia Republican is not seeking re-election, and 2018 is viewed as the last, best chance to pass a broad scale music copyright reform, which hasn't happened in decades.