named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Fee Allocation and Calculation
Designs and implements methodologies to allocate industry-wide license fees among individual stations based on market size and audience ratings.
Industry-Wide License Negotiations
Negotiates blanket music performance licenses with PROs (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC) on behalf of all full-power commercial TV stations in the U.S.
Music Use Survey
Conducts annual surveys measuring music performances on local TV using audience-weighted public performances (PuPs) to inform negotiations with PROs.
Unplugged Station Portal
Provides member stations with access to licensing data, fee histories, legal resources, and compliance tools through an online database.
activities · 1 group
What they do
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Music Licensing Rights Management 8 activities
- Allocates industry-wide music license fees to local television stationsDesigns and implements a methodology to allocate ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC blanket license fees across local television stations based on market size and audience ratings, calculates individual station fees on a monthly and annual basis, and adjusts fees based on cleared music usage to reduce costs. This methodology is subject to Federal Court review for ASCAP and BMI.
- Conducts music use surveys and performance measurement researchConducts the Music Use Survey annually since 2005 to measure music performances on non-network local television by collecting cue sheet and program schedule data from approximately 200 stations, combining it with Nielsen audience data, and applying statistical methods to estimate total and PRO-specific public performances (PuPs) across the industry.
- Ensures music performance rights for digital and multicast contentSecures performance rights for music used in broadcast content on digital multicast channels and station websites through negotiated licenses with performing rights organizations (PROs).
- Funds and manages legal proceedings for music licensing negotiationsFunds and manages litigation to secure industry-wide music license agreements when negotiations fail, including a lawsuit that led to SESAC agreeing to negotiate through 2035, and acts as an intermediary in legal discussions with GMR to establish form license agreements for unlicensed stations.
- Monitors legislative and industry developments in music licensingTracks and analyzes changes in industry practices and legislation that affect music licensing for local television stations to inform negotiation and advocacy strategies.
- Negotiates music performance rights licenses on behalf of television stationsRepresents nearly 1,200 full-power commercial television stations in the U.S. and its territories in negotiating industry-wide music performance license agreements with performing rights organizations (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GMR). Specific negotiated agreements include blanket, adjustable-fee, and per-program licenses for periods from 2024 through 2027.
- Provides dispute resolution and ongoing support to television stationsOffers support to resolve disputes between local television stations and performing rights organizations (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC) after license agreements are signed, and provides access to the Unplugged Station Database containing fee data, contribution invoices, and legal resources.
- Provides educational resources on music licensingOffers education to local television stations on music licensing practices, financial implications, and strategies to reduce licensing fees, including publication of 'Music Licensing: A Practical Guide' authored by the organization’s president.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$5.09M
Contributions & grants$4.66M91%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$437K9%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$2.26M
Program expenses66%
Admin / overhead34%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$524K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$31.66M
Cash$3.08M
Investments$27.43M
Liabilities$90K
Net assets$31.57M
Liquid reserves162.2 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -3.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JANET MCHUGH | PRESIDENT AND CEO | 40 | $332K |
| TEE PAWASITTICHOT | SENIOR DIRECTOR OF OPERATI | 40 | $133K |
board members · 18
- AMY PITTENGER — MEMBER
- ARYA TOWFIGHI — MEMBER
- BRAD SMITH — MEMBER
- BRIAN ROOF — MEMBER
- CHRIS REED — MEMBER
- DAVE GILES — MEMBER
- DAVID AMY — CHAIRMAN
- DAVID FLANZER — MEMBER
- ELLENANN YELVERTON — MEMBER
- JANE MARSHALL — EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER
- JON ALLEN — MEMBER
- LEONA MCCARTHY — SECRETARY
- MARK ROBINSON — MEMBER
- PAUL YATES — TREASURER
- RALPH BENDER — EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER
- RANDY BRADFORD — MEMBER
- RICHARD GRAHAM — VICE CHAIRMAN
- SCOTT BONILLA — MEMBER
relationships · 31
Who they work with
- ASCAP Government — Negotiated performance rights licenses with ASCAP for local television broadcasters.
- ASCAP Partner — Collaborates with ASCAP to offer blanket and hybrid music performance licenses for TV stations.
- ASCAP Partner — Negotiates industry-wide licensing agreements on behalf of local television stations
- ASCAP Partner — Negotiates industry-wide music license agreements and collaborates on fee allocation with ASCAP.
- ASCAP Partner — Negotiates industry-wide music performing rights licenses on behalf of member television stations.
- ASCAP Partner — Negotiates music performance rights licenses and resolves disputes on behalf of local television stations.
- ASCAP Partner — Obtains cue sheet data from ASCAP and measures music controlled by ASCAP in surveys.
- BMI Government — Negotiated performance rights licenses with BMI for local television broadcasters.
- BMI Partner — Includes BMI's repertory in the blanket music performance license offered to local TV stations.
- BMI Partner — Measures music controlled by BMI in music use surveys.
- BMI Partner — Negotiates industry-wide licensing agreements on behalf of local television stations
- BMI Partner — Negotiates industry-wide music license agreements and collaborates on fee allocation with BMI.
- BMI Partner — Negotiates industry-wide music performing rights licenses on behalf of member television stations.
- BMI Partner — Negotiates music performance rights licenses and resolves disputes on behalf of local television stations.
- GMR Partner — Engages in licensing negotiations with GMR on behalf of broadcasters.
- GMR Partner — Includes data from GMR in music use surveys to measure music they control.
- Global Music Rights Partner — Acted as intermediary to facilitate a form license agreement for unlicensed local TV stations
- MRI Partner — Sources cue sheet data from MRI for music use analysis.
- Music Reports Inc. Partner — Coordinates with third-party per-program music licensing administrators for stations.
- Music Reports, Inc. Partner — Contact for per program license (PPL) savings information
- Nielsen Partner — Uses Nielsen’s P2+ viewership data to determine audience size for music use measurement.
- Performing Rights Organizations Partner — Negotiates with performing rights organizations representing television composers and publishers to secure music performance licenses.
- SESAC Government — Negotiated performance rights licenses with SESAC for local television broadcasters.
- SESAC Partner — Includes SESAC's repertory in the blanket music performance license offered to local TV stations.
- SESAC Partner — Measures music controlled by SESAC in music use surveys.
- SESAC Partner — Negotiates final license fees and terms for multi-year industry-wide agreements
- SESAC Partner — Negotiates industry-wide music license agreements and collaborates on fee allocation with SESAC.
- SESAC Partner — Negotiates industry-wide music performing rights licenses through 2035 following a lawsuit funded by TVMLC.
- SESAC Partner — Negotiates music performance rights licenses and resolves disputes on behalf of local television stations through 2035.
- W.G. Slantz Partner — Contact for per program license (PPL) savings information
+ 1 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Collective Negotiation for Music Licensingmethodology: collective_negotiationBy pooling the representation of local television stations, the organization achieves more favorable music performance license terms through unified bargaining power, reducing individual negotiation burdens and securing reduced industry-wide fees via standardized licensing models.
- Cost Efficiency Through License Optimizationmethodology: cost_efficiency_through_fee_creditsBy enabling fee credits under adjustable-fee blanket licenses when music is already licensed through other channels, the organization reduces redundant payments and supports cost efficiency for broadcasters without sacrificing access to a broad music repertoire.
- Equitable and Usage-Based Fee Allocationmethodology: equitable_fee_allocationBy allocating blanket music licensing fees based on television market size, audience ratings, and proactively cleared music usage, the organization ensures equitable cost distribution and incentivizes cost-conscious behavior among broadcasters, enhancing both fairness and efficiency.
- Representative Music Usage Measurementmethodology: usage-based_measurementBy measuring music use through Public Performances weighted by audience size and using randomized sampling and proxy data imputation when necessary, the organization generates accurate, scalable estimates of national music exposure to inform equitable licensing and distribution practices.