January, 2021. The DOJ has concluded that the ancient anti-trust consent decrees that permit ACSCAP, BMI and other Performing Rights Organizations to issue blanket song copyright licenses should be left untouched – despite the document listing all of the current dynamics at work in the music business. ASCAP and BMI were hoping that the decrees would be terminated so that song licensing would become a “free market.” The DOJ paid lip service to a free market for music licenses, but didn’t terminate the decree. The broadcasters and streamers were satisfied that the consent decrees would continue unchanged. Stay tuned, so to speak.
U.S. Department of Justice Punts in its Review of the 80 year-old ASCAP and BMI Antitrust Consent Decrees
