Sound Exchange

SoundExchange Report

SoundExchange not only appointed former general counsel, Michael Huppe, as the new president, but has also made several significant additions to “staff up” across the organization. This includes a new executive team, data management, claims and communication departments. As a whole, the staff is committed to advancing initiatives that ensure digital performance royalties make their way into the hands of the creative community. These efforts include the establishment of new departments dedicated to managing metadata and resolving rights owner disputes; the rollout of simplified payee statements; and continued advocacy for royalty structures that recognize the vital role that the creators of music play for digital services.

SoundExchange Files Motion to Dismiss SiriusXM’s Complaint

SoundExchange yesterday moved to dismiss SiriusXM’s allegations that it is “unlawfully interfering” in the satellite radio company’s efforts to secure copyrights through a competitive market. SoundExchange did nothing improper and we find it ironic that these “antitrust” charges are coming from a company which enjoys its status as North America’s only satellite radio provider. SiriusXM’s claims are entirely false and the litigation is simply an impermissible tactic to derail the rate-setting proceeding that is now underway. We view this as nothing more than an attempt by SiriusXM to pay less for the music at the core of its service, even as its revenues soar.

SoundExchange Announces New VP of Communications

WASHINGTON – April 26, 2012 – SoundExchange today announced the hire of Marie Knowles as vice president of communications. In this role, she will lead the organization’s strategic communications, including public relations, media relations and internal employee communications strategy.

SoundExchange Ends Record-Setting Year with $89.5 Million in Q4 2011 Distributions

WASHINGTON – January 17, 2012– SoundExchange today announced a fourth quarter 2011 distribution of $89.5 million with more than 18,000 payments, bringing year-end estimated royalty payments to $292 million (up 17 percent from the prior year). SoundExchange’s distributions continue to grow each quarter, with the most recent being it’s largest to date. This brings total royalties distributed since the organization’s inception to more than $900 million.

SoundExchange Appoints Scott Day as CTO

WASHINGTON, DC – December 6, 2011 – SoundExchange announced today the appointment of Scott Day to the role of chief technology officer (CTO). Scott will assume responsibility for identifying and implementing technology innovations that create strategic business value for the organization.

XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio Copyright Litigation SoundExchange Registrants and Members

You may have been contacted or have heard about settlements of class action lawsuits, involving independent record labels and master owners and XM Satellite Radio, Inc. and Sirius Satellite Radio, Inc.  Please be aware that SoundExchange is not a party to these lawsuits and is not advising its registrants or members to either opt-in or opt-out of the settlements.  SoundExchange’s participation has been limited to providing data to the administrator of the settlements in order to facilitate settlement claims.  Please consult your own legal counsel in determining whether or not it is more appropriate for you to opt into the settlement or opt out.  You can find more information about the settlements at www.notavxm.com or www.notavsirius.com.

Music Industry Veteran Joins SoundExchange As COO

SoundExchange announced today the appointment of Jonathan C. Bender to the role of chief operating officer (COO).  Jonathan will assume responsibility for the organization’s operational structure, including oversight of distribution and account services. He will also oversee repertoire management and the organization’s database for tracking, collecting and distributing music royalties on behalf of artists and record labels.

October 2011: SoundExchange Statement on Sirius XM Direct Licenses and the Statutory License

SoundExchange recently received questions from artists and independent labels about Sirius XM’s requests for direct licenses.  Those offers are apparently being delivered by Music Reports Inc. (MRI), a company that represents the services who use music rather than the people and companies that make music. Indeed, MRI’s website states that it strives to license music from music creators “at the lowest possible cost.”

We are not privy to the discussions MRI is having about these direct licenses.  We can, however, provide some background about the statutory license for satellite radio, and what we do on behalf of the thousands of record labels and recording artists that we represent.

SoundExchange Contributes To Music Industry Growth With Highest-Ever Quarterly Distribution

“World’s Biggest” Sound Recording Performance Rights Organization Delivers $88 Million in Q3 to 18,300 Artists and Labels

WASHINGTON, DC – October 25, 2011 – SoundExchange announced today that it has distributed nearly $88 million to more than 18,300 payees designated by recording artists and labels during the third quarter of 2011. SoundExchange is the non-profit performance rights organization (PRO) that was appointed by the Copyright Royalty Board to collect and distribute statutory performance royalties owed to recording artists and sound recording copyright owners. The quarterly distribution, SoundExchange’s largest to date, includes royalties paid by Internet radio, satellite radio and cable TV music-only channels.

SoundExchange and CD Baby to artists, labels: “Come claim your cash.”

Orgs. spread news of $1M in back royalties owed to 14,000+ creators

SoundExchange, the non-profit performance rights organization authorized to collect royalties for the digital performance of sound recordings, and CD Baby, the online music store and digital distributor, have announced a reprise of their initiative to notify hundreds of recording artists owed back royalties. The match, which the organizations hope to make an annual event, identified 14,380 CD Baby-affiliated artists and labels are collectively owed more than $1 million.