Florida-based royalty collection firm Pro Music Rights (PMR) has been formally recognized as a performance rights organization by The National Religious Broadcasters Music License Committee (NRBMLC).
NRBMLC Executive Director Scott R. Hunter formally recognized Pro Music Rights as a new PRO to NRBMLC Members in the organization’s ‘March Update’ on March 31, 2020.
PMR’s announcement follows last month’s news that the company filed an antitrust lawsuit against what it says is “the entire music industry”.
Filed in Connecticut federal court on Monday (March 9), PMR’s suit alleges that the named defendants are “running an illegal cartel for the performance rights of musical works”.
Named in the suit are Apple, Amazon, Google, Youtube, Spotify, Digital Media Association, Radio Music License Committee, Inc., The National Association Of American Wineries, Television Music License Committee, Llc, 7digital, Deezer, iHeartmedia, Connoisseur Media, Pandora, Rhapsody International, SoundCloud, and the NRBMLC.
This antitrust lawsuit follows a bundle of 10 copyright lawsuits filed by Pro Music Rights against music streaming services in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in December 2019.
It also follows a billion-dollar lawsuit filed by Pro Music Rights against Spotify in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in November 2019.
PMR claims to have a 7.4% market share based on musical works, with the rights to license about 2 million works from artists including A$AP Rocky, Wiz Khalifa, Pharrell, Young Jeezy, Juelz Santana, Lil Yachty, Soulja Boy, Nipsey Hussle, 2 Chainz, Migos, Gucci Mane and Fall Out Boy, among others.
“Now more than ever, with the COVID-19 pandemic, public performance royalties are crucially vital to the livelihood of creatives and the families they support.
Jake P. Noch, Pro Music Rights
Jake P. Noch, CEO and Founder of Pro Music Rights, said: “While Pro Music Rights appreciates the formal recognition that Pro Music Rights is a legitimate performance rights organization by The National Religious Broadcasters Music License Committee, it does not change The Fact that The NRBMLC is a member of an illegal price-fixing cartel and the cartel is a direct threat to the livelihoods of the creative community as a whole.
“Now more than ever, with the COVID-19 pandemic, public performance royalties are crucially vital to the livelihood of creatives and the families they support.
“Pro Music Rights being recognized by an illegal cartel member will not deter Pro Music Rights from fighting every day for the creative community.”Music Business Worldwide
