CRB Seeks Comment on Proposed Distribution of 2012, 2013 DART Musical Works Fund Royalties

The Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) sought comment Tuesday on its plan to approve a settlement by the three top performing rights organizations and The Harry Fox Agency on distribution of 2012 and 2013 Digital Audio Recording Technology (DART) Musical Works Fund royalties. Harry Fox and the PROs -- the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) and the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers (SESAC) -- jointly seek distribution of 95 percent of the 2012 and 2013 DART Musical Works Fund royalties, the CRB said in a Federal Register notice. The PROs and Harry Fox didn't say how they will allocate the royalties among themselves. The CRB is seeking comment from “interested claimants” on “whether any reasonable objection exists that would preclude” distribution of 95 percent of the funds to the PROs and Harry Fox. Claimants must submit comments to the CRB by June 16.​