Pandora, Sony/ATV Sign Multiyear Licensing Agreement for Music Catalog

Pandora and Sony/ATV Music Publishing signed a multiyear licensing agreement for Sony’s catalog of musical works, the companies said Thursday. Terms weren't disclosed. The direct publishing deal creates “business benefits” for Pandora, while modernizing compensation for Sony/ATV and its songwriters in the U.S., they said. The agreement is a "major step in the right direction to ensure that our songwriters are fairly compensated for the use of their music on streaming services,” said Martin Bandier, Sony/ATV CEO. The agreement means better rates “on one of the most important platforms for music consumption and discovery,” Bandier said. The companies called the deal a “win-win approach to publisher economics.” Sony songwriters will receive “improved performance royalties” while Pandora will benefit from improved rate certainty and the ability to add flexibility to its product offering over time, they said. The agreement doesn't cover public performance royalties that Pandora pays to rights holders of master recordings, said the companies.