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# U.S. Dept. Of Justices Expected To Approve Changes That Would Change ASCAP, BMI Forever
- URL: https://www.hypebot.com/us-dept-of-justices-eyes-decision-that-would-change-ascap-bmi-forever/
- Published: 2015-04-08T11:59:00.000Z
- Updated: 2015-04-08T11:59:00.000Z
- Description: Publishers have been trying to follow the lead of record labels to bypass BMI and ASCAP to cut direct licensing deals with digital services. A U.S. Department of Justice consent decree. Continue reading [https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2015/04/us-dept-of-justices-eyes-decision-that-would-change-asca
- Author: Bruce Houghton
- Tags: Music Business, Songwriting & Music Publishing, Al Franken, Alan Cross, Alison J. Nathan, American Society of Composers, Artist, Authors and Publishers, Broadcast Music, Inc., Performance rights organisation, record label, United States, Universal Music Group, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-01-21 10:28

**[![image from www.secwhistleblowerprogram.org](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e201b8d0fe7657970c-150wi "image from www.secwhistleblowerprogram.org")](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e201b8d0fe7657970c-popup?ref=hypebot.com)Publishers** have been trying to follow the lead of record labels to **bypass BMI and ASCAP** to cut **direct licensing deals with digital services**. A **U.S. Department of Justice** consent decree has prevented it, but that **may be about to change**.

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The US Department Of Justice, which is in the midst of a review of the nation's publishing industry, is expected to issue a new ruling that would allow publishers to partially withdrawal digital collection from BMI and ASCAP, sources tell [Billboard](https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/6524359/dept-of-justice-consent-decrees-overhaul-publishing-ascap-bmi?ref=hypebot.com). Publishers would still use the the performing rights organizations to administer payments to songwriters.

[![image from www.accessmusiclaw.com](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e201b7c774e2f0970b-300wi "image from www.accessmusiclaw.com")](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e201b7c774e2f0970b-popup?ref=hypebot.com)

If adopted and approved by the courts, the change would be a big win for major publishers, but there is some good news for BMI and ASCAP. The PROs would reportedly now be allowed issue blanket digital licenses that include both mechanical and performance rights.

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