Urgent: Opt Into Radio Streaming Waiver

The National Association of Broadcasters has successfully reached agreements with Sony Music Entertainment and the Warner Music Group on streaming waivers. These agreements will allow radio broadcasters to continue bringing Sony and Warner artists to millions of listeners online without risking copyright liability.

The agreement with Sony extends through December 31, 2020, and waives certain requirements that make it difficult for radio broadcasters to stream. To take advantage of Sony’s waiver, broadcasters must proactively opt in to the agreement.

Radio broadcasters choosing to opt in and comply with the waiver provisions please click here.

No action is necessary to take advantage of the agreement with Warner. This waiver agreement is an extension of NAB’s prior deal.

You may recall that the reduced Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) streaming rates for 2016-2020 did not address certain waivers NAB had obtained in the past concerning a number of statutory conditions. Since the end of 2015, NAB’s Legal team has been working with the record labels to secure new waivers on behalf of radio broadcasters.

NAB appreciates Sony’s and Warner’s work, which help record labels and radio stations to continue to work together to deliver the music listeners love on all devices. 

To fully understand the impact of opting into the waiver, the eligibility requirements of streaming under the statutory license and related rights and responsibilities involved, we urge you to contact your station counsel. NAB members can also contact the Legal team with questions at (866) 682-0276.