Pandora ink deal with Sony/ATV

Pandora has agreed a landmark direct multi-year licensing deal with Sony/ATV in the US. The deal means that Pandora "has effectively bypassed the standard US compulsory licensing process – and its custodians, collection societies ASCAP and BMI – to gain access to Sony/ATV’s repertoire."

As a result, Sony/ATV says it has been able to negotiate improved rates for its 4 million copyrights directly, while Pandora says it will ‘benefit from a greater rate certainty and the ability to add new flexibility to the company’s product offering over time’. A similar direct agreement was reached by Pandora with BMG last year, while the independent labels recorded music body Merlin has also agreed a direct deal with the platform

http://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/pandora-strikes-direct-us-licensing-deal-sonyatv/