Pandora inks performance royalty deals with trade groups ASCAP and BMI

Dec 22 2015, 09:35 ET | About: Pandora Media (P) | By: Eric Jhonsa, SA News Editor

Pandora (P +0.8%) has struck multi-year licensing deals with ASCAP and BMI, two trade groups that own music publishing rights to 20M+ songs between them. In tandem with the deals, Pandora is withdrawing its appeal of an adverse May ruling from a New York rate court regarding a dispute with BMI.

Terms are undisclosed, though Pandora says the deals "allow both ASCAP and BMI to further their goal of delivering improved performance royalties for their songwriters and publishers," while allowing Pandora to benefit from greater rate certainty and product flexibility.

As of earlier this year, Pandora paid 1.85% of its revenue to ASCAP and 1.75% to BMI. The company recently bought a South Dakota radio station in an attempt to lower its performance royalty payments.

The agreements follow direct deals with music publishers Warner/Chappell and Sony/ATV. They're separate from Pandora's recording royalty payments to SoundExchange (much larger), the 2016-2020 rates for which were set last week by the Copyright Royalty Board in a much-anticipated ruling.

Tod Hughes

Tod Hughes Quotes and Reviews

Bandblurb

“Hughes clearly establishes himself as an important new talent.”

Skope Magazine

“they certainly serve notice of Tod Hughes’ songwriting skills”

Penweb


“We need more simple albums. On his debut EP Changin’ Gears, Tod Hughes dispenses with eardrum busting production, elaborate song structures, and strident theatricality. He presents listeners with six straightforward songs written about subjects drawn from everyday life and musically tailored along similar lines. The Canadian based singer/songwriter’s gifts are real. He has discernment enough to pull back on the reins enough to entertain audiences instead of letting his self-indulgence fly, but he has a talent for twisting and uncovering illuminating turns of phrase. “

Vents Magazine

“There is a higher intelligence presiding over these songs, but it informs the artistry; it’s the hand behind the curtain. “

‘there’s a refreshing amount of humor throughout the album”

All What’s Rock








“The Only Person Who Won’t Drink with Me Is You” is an ideal closer – its high velocity charge and romping humor are the fullest realization of Hughes’ musical vision. The guitars deliver a nasty bite that helps put the song over more.”

Tod Hughes BIO

Tod Hughes hails from Calgary, Canada where he lives with his family.  Tod writes real music that comes from the heart, stories of love, hurt, happiness, fear, disappointment and fun.  A message of hope is thread through the stories which are sometimes serious and sometimes a bit tongue in cheek.  The toe tapping melodies and memorable choruses will stick in your mind for days after hearing them.  They are told with truth and respect.



Tod wrote and sang all of the songs on "Changing Gears".  One song on the album, “Brad’s Song” went to number 2 on radio charts in Louisiana, and the album charted throughout the US, as well as being picked up for TV by the Discovery Channel,  NASCAR Station and others.



Inspired by the great storytellers of our time, men like Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, JJ Cale, Neil Young and Leonard Cohen, Tod's unique style of telling the stories and engaging the listener resonates with folks of all ages