After a long series of negotiations, SoundExchange and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) have reached an agreement on Internet performance royalty rates for non-commercial public radio entities that will be paid to recording artists and copyright owners. The agreement establishes the amount of royalties that will be paid by CPB on behalf of the public radio system for streaming music on public radio websites during the period January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2010. The agreement will cover approximately 450 public radio webcasters, including CPB supported stations, NPR, NPR members, National Federation of Community Broadcasters members, American Public Media, Public Radio Exchange and Public Radio International.

Under the new deal, SoundExchange is to receive a single up-front royalty payment of $1.85 million together with consolidated usage and playlist reporting from CPB on behalf of the entire public radio system. Consolidated reporting from CPB will improve the efficiency of the payment process by helping to ensure that performers and copyright owners are accurately paid for the use of their music. NPR has also agreed to withdraw its appeal of the 2007 CRB royalty rate decision in which the rates were raised.

"We are extremely pleased by this agreement with CPB and public radio stations. Public radio broadens the landscape of music available to music fans and SoundExchange’s 35,000 artists and 4,000 plus labels look forward to our continued partnership with public radio," said SX Executive Director John Simson.

"This important agreement will ensure that the artists heard on public radio station websites will receive compensation and will enable public radio webcasters to continue to meet their public service, non-profit missions," added Pat Harrison, President/CEO of CPB. "Thank you to our public radio negotiating partners, NPR and the Station Resource Group, for the invaluable contributions they have made during these negotiations."