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Noncommercial Webcaster (CRB)

This is the “default” category for noncommercial services offering “Internet-only” transmissions and/or simulcasts of AM or FM transmissions. (Most services operated by high school or college students would qualify as Noncommercial Educational Webcasters, and those rates and terms can be found here.) The rates and terms are described at 37 CFR 380 Subpart A. The Copyright Royalty Board’s determination for 2021-2025 webcasting rates can be found here.

2024

2024 Memo
Licensee Direct
Report of Use

2023

2023 Memo
Licensee Direct
Report of Use

2022

2022 Memo
Licensee Direct
Annual Minimum Fee Forms (SOAs), for 2022 and prior years
Report of Use


1) Minimum Fees and Minimum Fee SOA:

  1. Amount: $1000, per station or channel. All payments must be accompanied by a signed and completed minimum fee Statement of Account.
  2. Recuperability of Minimum Fee: The minimum fee is credited against monthly liability accrued within the same calendar year. Services do not submit additional payment for that year until they have exceeded the minimum fee.
  3. Due date: Annual, on or before January 31. New services beginning streaming on or after February 1 are required to pay minimum fees within 45 days after the end of the month in which streaming first occurs.

2) Liability Rate, Payment, and Monthly SOA:

  1. Rate: $1000.00 for each station/channel’s first 159,140 aggregate tuning hours (“ATH’) each month. (NOTE: This payment is 100% recouped using the annual minimum fee.) Any listenership in excess of 159,140 ATH monthly (per station or channel) has liability calculated at the below rates:
    • 2020: $0.0018 per performance
    • 2021: $0.0021 per performance
    • 2022: $0.0022 per performance
    • 2023: $0.0024 per performance
    • 2024: $0.0025 per performance
  2. Payment and Statements of Account: Services must submit a Statement of Account for each month, calculating the liability owed for that month, within 45 days after the end of that month, accompanied by any payment indicated on the form (if any).
    1. Services are encouraged to use Licensee Direct for ALL submissions.
    2. If no payment is owed, Statements of Account may be submitted via e-mail as a PDF to [email protected], or via fax to 202.640.5883.
    3. If payment is owed, the Statement of Account (accompanied by payment) should be mailed, if using regular mail to: 1. SoundExchange, Inc., P.O. Box #715202, Philadelphia, PA 19171-5202. If you are using overnight delivery send to: Lockbox Services #0075202 SoundExchange, Inc. MAC Y1372-045 401 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
    4. Payment must be in the form of a check, money order, or direct bank wire (or ACH payment). For assistance in delivering money via bank wire, please contact SoundExchange at 202.640.5858 or e-mail us at [email protected].

3) Reports of Use: Services are required to submit Reports of Use (i.e. the “playlists”) as described in 37 CFR 370.4.

  1. Minimum Fee Broadcasters. Services simulcasting AM or FM transmissions which do not exceed the annual minimum fee (“minimum fee broadcasters”) have the following Reports of Use obligations:
    1. Frequency of Submission. Quarterly, within 45 days after the end of each calendar quarter.
    2. Content. Reports of Use must contain a sample consisting of all sound recordings accruing performance liability within any two seven-consecutive-day periods during the calendar quarter.
      1. Identifying Information. Each track listing must include the following:
        1. Name of Track as listed on the recording
        2. Name of Artist as listed on the recording
        3. ISRC as listed on the recording, or if unavailable, the combination of both the album name and the marketing label as listed on the recording
        4. Audience Measurement. Each track must have associated with it the amount of “actual total performances” accrued by the track within the sample periods. Services unable to submit actual total performances must report for each track:
          1. The total ATH for the sample periods,
          2. The program or channel name on which the transmission occurred, and
          3. The play frequency (i.e. “spins”) that the track accrued during the sample periods.
  2. All Other Noncommercial Webcasters:
    1. Frequency of Submission. Monthly, within 45 days after the end of each month.
    2. Content. Reports of Use must contain a complete census of all sound recordings accruing performance liability within the month.
      1. Identifying Information. Each track listing must include the following:
        1. Name of Track as listed on the recording,
        2. Name of Artist as listed on the recording,
        3. ISRC as listed on the recording, or if unavailable, the combination of both the album name and the marketing label as listed on the recording.
        4. Audience Measurement. Each track must have associated with it the amount of “actual total performances” accrued by the track within the month.

4) Format and Delivery Specifications: Reports of Use are required to be electronically submitted in one of the following ways:

  1. E-mail to [email protected]. This method is preferred for all services if the Report of Use contains fewer than 200,000 lines.
  2. FTP. This method is preferred for services submitting Reports of Use containing greater than 200,000 lines. To request a login ID and a password, please e-mail [email protected].
  3. CD–R, DVD-R, or portable USB drive. If a service is unable to submit Reports of Use via e-mail or FTP, they may be delivered physically using the above media to SoundExchange, ATTN: Royalty Administration, 733 10th St., NW, 10th Floor, Washington, DC 20001.

5) Late Payments and Monthly SOA:
The late fee program is designed to catch all late payments, any statement of account or any report of use on a month to month basis. A Licensee is required to pay a late fee of 1.5% per month (0.75% for Business Establishment Services; increase to 1.0% effective January 1, 2014) for any payment and/or statements of account received by the collective after the due date. Late fees accrue from the due date of this payment, statement of account or report of use until payment and the related statement of account are received by the collective.
Get more information about Reporting Requirements