CRBFinal RuleDecember 1, 2025

Cost of Living Adjustment: Royalty Rates and Terms for Making and Distributing Phonorecords

Finance & BankingTechnologyLabor & Workplace

Summary

This regulation adjusts the royalty rates that music streaming services and other companies must pay to musicians and songwriters for using their recorded songs. The Copyright Royalty Board updates these payment rates periodically to account for inflation, ensuring that artists receive fair compensation as the cost of living changes.

Key Points

1Streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music must adjust how much they pay artists based on a cost-of-living increase
2The new rates apply to companies that make and distribute recorded music to the public
3This affects what music consumers pay for subscriptions, as companies may adjust prices to cover higher royalty costs
4Musicians and songwriters benefit from higher payments that better reflect current economic conditions
5The adjustment takes effect following the publication date and applies to future licensing agreements

Impact Assessment

If you are a musician or songwriter, this means your streaming royalty payments will be adjusted to reflect inflation, potentially increasing the compensation you receive from music streaming services.

Impact Level

Significant

Geographic Scope

National

Compliance Cost

Moderate

Who is Affected

Technology CompaniesWorkers/LaborersSmall Businesses

Key Dates

Published

December 1, 2025

Regulatory Connections

Authorized By

Amends CFR Sections

37 CFR Part 385

This summary is for informational purposes only. It may not capture all nuances of the regulation. Always refer to the official text for authoritative information.