U.S. to Review 1940s-Era Music Rules, With Billions at Stake
- Songwriters seek changes to so-called consent decrees
- Antitrust agency head has advocated scrapping the agreements
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The U.S. Justice Department plans to review agreements that determine how songwriters are paid by radio stations, restaurants and streaming services, a move that could affect billions in royalties doled out each year.
Makan Delrahim, the top antitrust official at the Department of Justice, signaled in a speech Wednesday that he was examining the so-called consent decrees. And people familiar with the matter say the department has communicated its plans in discussions with music-industry executives. The Justice Department also has scheduled additional meetings in the coming weeks, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private.