Federal Register #2026-06055

Final Rule: Adjusted Royalty Rates for Digital Sound Recording Performances by New Subscription Services

This regulatory update from the Copyright Royalty Board adjusts royalty rates for digital performances of sound recordings by new subscription services. - Government Buyer: - Library of Congress - Copyright Royalty Board - Scope: - Adjusts royalty rates for digital performances of sound recordings by new subscription services - Covers rates for ephemeral recordings necessary to facilitate transmissions - Rate Details: - Stand-alone contracts: $0.0241 per subscriber per month - Bundled contracts: $0.0401 per subscriber per month - Rates based on Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) - Applicability: - Applies to the license period from 2026 to 2030 - Affects copyright royalty payments, not a procurement of goods or services - No OEMs, vendors, or specific products/services are involved, as this is a regulatory action, not a procurement opportunity.

Description

The Copyright Royalty Judges have issued a final rule adjusting the royalty rates for digital performances of sound recordings by new subscription services and for the making of ephemeral recordings necessary to facilitate those transmissions. This adjustment is based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) figures. The new rates apply for the period from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2030, with the effective date of the rule being March 30, 2026. The adjustment reflects a slight increase in the monthly payment per subscriber for both stand-alone and bundled contracts.

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