Advertising Week interviewed Manatt's Robert Jacobs, co-chair of the firm's Entertainment and Media Litigation practice, for an article on how new legislation would further pit artists against broadcasters.
Lawmakers recently announced legislation that would force broadcasters, Internet streaming companies and satellite radio companies to pay royalties to musicians. The Fair Play Fair Pay Act would regulate new performance rights for AM and FM stations and would require satellite radio companies to pay market rate royalties.
"There's more intensity now, in light of the introduction of legislation," said Jacobs, who has represented labels and artists like Warner Bros. Records, Usher and Rascal Flatts, among others.
That intensity and uncertainty has opened what Jacobs has called a "very honest debate on how to move forward finding balance."
Read the article here.