NMPA, Songwriters and SESAC Announce Unconditional Support for Music Modernization Act

Radio Facts: The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA), the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), the Songwriters of North America (SONA), and SESAC today announced they have agreed to work together to support the Music Modernization Act (MMA). The broad coalition demonstrates an unprecedented commitment by the industry to support songwriters and music publishers, who will benefit from the bill’s ultimate passage, resulting in the most comprehensive reform to the music copyright business in generations.

The MMA improves how songwriters are paid by digital streaming services. The bill creates a single mechanical licensing entity which will establish an open, transparent copyright ownership database that will be overseen by music publishers and songwriters and paid for by digital services.

At the encouragement of Senators deeply involved in the legislation and recognizing the importance of the MMA for the future of the music industry, the parties have endorsed a provision under consideration by the Senate to amend the Mechanical Licensing Collective’s (MLC) administration of voluntary licenses outside the scope of the Section 115 compulsory license in order to ensure private vendors can continue to participate in the music market, maintaining competition which is beneficial to songwriters and producers.

All parties have enthusiastically agreed and respectfully request the Senate pass the MMA.