What Are the Performing Rights Organizations Doing To Protect Songwriters and Musicians?
The last few years have been a roller coaster ride for the music industry. As stories have moved from Arts & Entertainment to the Business sections of major media outlets, the public has become aware of the new realities facing the industry. Whether it s the challenge of the internet, or increasing globalization, everything seems to be up for grabs. Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) have been at the center of a lot of these controversies. Although most musicians and songwriters are familiar with ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC, what do these organizations do and how are they positioning themselves and their clients for the future? Another problem that needs to be addressed is whether America s different approach to the collection of performance royalties will create opportunities for organizations to collect new royalties that heretofore did not exist or were somehow unavailable. The best place to start looking for answers to these questions is in copyright law. United States copyright law
