Music Royalties Rise Slightly with Inflation Adjustment

2026-04630 — Determination of Rates and Terms for Digital Performance of Sound Recordings and Making of Ephemeral Copies To Facilitate Those Performances (Web VI)

Starting January 1, 2026, noncommercial educational webcasters will follow new rules for paying to play music online, lasting through 2030. These updated rates and terms come from a deal between music rights groups and college broadcasters, making sure artists get fair pay while schools keep streaming. The changes kick in on March 10, 2026, so webcasters should get ready to follow the new payment rules.

2026-04627 — Determination of Rates and Terms for Digital Performance of Sound Recordings by New Subscription Services and Making of Ephemeral Copies To Facilitate Those Performances (NSS V)

Starting January 1, 2026, new subscription services that play music as part of cable or satellite TV bundles will follow fresh rules on how much they pay for digital music performances and temporary copies. These rules, effective through 2030, set clear rates and terms agreed upon by major music and service players, making sure artists and rights holders get fair pay. If you’re a streaming service or music rights owner, these changes mean smoother, fairer payments for the next five years.

2026-04633 — Determination of Rates and Terms for Digital Performance of Sound Recordings and Making of Ephemeral Copies To Facilitate Those Performances (Web VI)

Starting January 1, 2026, certain public radio stations will follow new rules for paying royalties when they play music online and make temporary copies to do so. These rules, agreed upon by major players like NPR and SoundExchange, set clear rates and terms through 2030, helping everyone know what to expect. The changes kick in March 10, 2026, and could affect how much stations pay for digital music performances.

2026-04631 — Determination of Rates and Terms for Digital Performance of Sound Recordings and Making of Ephemeral Copies To Facilitate Those Performances (Web VI)

Starting January 1, 2026, new rules set how much Educational Media Foundation pays for playing music online and making temporary copies to do it. These rules last until the end of 2030 and come from a deal everyone agreed on, so no one objected. This means clearer costs and terms for digital music use, effective March 10, 2026.

2026-04632 — Determination of Rates and Terms for Digital Performance of Sound Recordings and Making of Ephemeral Copies To Facilitate Those Performances (Web VI)

Starting January 1, 2026, commercial broadcasters will follow new rules for paying royalties when they play music online without subscriptions. These rules set fair rates and terms for digital performances and temporary copies of songs, lasting through 2030. This means broadcasters and music rights groups like SoundExchange have a clear, agreed plan for sharing money from digital music plays.

2025-21579 — Cost of Living Adjustment to Public Broadcasters Compulsory License Royalty Rate

Starting January 1, 2026, certain noncommercial college and university radio stations not linked to NPR will pay a slightly higher royalty fee for playing music from SESAC and GMR catalogs. This increase matches the cost of living rise or a minimum 1.5% bump, whichever is higher. The new rates kick in on November 28, 2025, and apply through the end of 2026, helping keep royalty payments fair and up-to-date.

Previous: 2026-06049 — Categorical Exclusions From Environmental Review

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is making it easier and faster to handle certain licensing and administrative actions by skipping extra environmental reviews when they don’t harm the environment. This change affects anyone dealing with NRC licenses but won’t add new rules or costs. The new rule kicks in on April 29, 2026, speeding up processes without cutting corners on safety.

Next: 2026-06070 — Marketable Treasury Securities Redemption Operations

Starting March 30, 2026, the Treasury is updating the rules for buying back marketable Treasury securities. More people can now directly offer securities for redemption, and the paperwork has been simplified and clarified. These changes make the process smoother and reflect how the Treasury currently operates, affecting investors and financial institutions involved in these buybacks.