Music Rights Group, Government Face Off Over Licensing Practice

The country’s largest music licensing organization goes up against the U.S. Justice Department before a federal appeals court on Dec. 1 to preserve the way it’s been licensing songs to radio stations, restaurants, bars, and other businesses.

If Broadcast Music Inc. loses its bid to get the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to affirm a federal district court ruling, it could overturn decades-old music licensing practices, potentially making it difficult for businesses to play many of the most popular songs for its customers (United States v. Broad. Music, Inc., 2d Cir., No. 16-3830, to be argued 12/1/17