Frozen Royalty Plan for LPs, CDs Dropped in Songwriters Win (1)

The Copyright Royalty Board withdrew a proposed rule that would have maintained a fixed rate for licenses that grant the right to reproduce and distribute musical compositions on vinyl records, permanent downloads, ringtones, music bundles and compact discs.

Tossing the fixed rate is viewed as a win for songwriters, several of whom weighed in on the proposal. Singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash said in comments to the board that mechanical royalties are “one of the most reliable ways a songwriter can still make a minimum-to-decent wage.”

The current fixed rate of 9.1 cents per song was set in 2006. It was extended ...