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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 14, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 3252]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-00623]

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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Copyright Royalty Board

[Docket Nos. 24-CRB-0012-AU (Beasley Mezzanine Holdings LLC), 24-CRB-
0013-AU (Family Stations, Inc.), 24-CRB-0014-AU (Hubbard Broadcasting, 
Inc.), 24-CRB-0015-AU (iHeartMedia), 24-CRB-0016-AU (Midwest 
Communications)]

Notice of Intent To Audit

AGENCY: Copyright Royalty Board, Library of Congress.

ACTION: Public notice.

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SUMMARY: The Copyright Royalty Judges announce receipt from 
SoundExchange, Inc., of notices of intent to audit the 2021, 2022, and 
2023 statements of account submitted by commercial webcasters Beasley 
Mezzanine Holdings, LLC, Hubbard Broadcasting Inc., iHeartMedia, and 
Midwest Communications, Inc. and non-commercial webcaster Family 
Stations, Inc. concerning royalty payments they made pursuant to two 
statutory licenses.

ADDRESSES: Dockets: For access to the dockets to read background 
documents, go to eCRB at https://app.crb.gov and perform a case search 
for docket 24-CRB-0012-AU (Beasley Mezzanine Holdings LLC), 24-CRB-
0013-AU (Family Stations, Inc.), 24-CRB-0014-AU (Hubbard Broadcasting, 
Inc.), 24-CRB-0015-AU (iHeartMedia), or 24-CRB-0016-AU (Midwest 
Communications).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anita Brown, (202) 707-7658, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Copyright Act grants to sound recordings 
copyright owners the exclusive right to publicly perform sound 
recordings by means of certain digital audio transmissions, subject to 
limitations. Specifically, the right is limited by the statutory 
license in section 114, which allows nonexempt noninteractive digital 
subscription services, eligible nonsubscription services, and 
preexisting satellite digital audio radio services to perform publicly 
sound recordings by means of digital audio transmissions. 17 U.S.C. 
114(f). In addition, a statutory license in section 112 allows a 
service to make necessary ephemeral reproductions to facilitate digital 
transmission of the sound recording. 17 U.S.C. 112(e).
    Licensees may operate under these licenses provided they pay the 
royalty fees and comply with the terms set by the Copyright Royalty 
Judges. The rates and terms for the section 112 and 114 licenses are 
codified in 37 CFR parts 380 and 382-84.
    As one of the terms for these licenses, the Judges designated 
SoundExchange, Inc., (SoundExchange) as the Collective, i.e., the 
organization charged with collecting the royalty payments and 
statements of account submitted by licensees, including those that 
operate commercial and noncommercial webcaster services, preexisting 
satellite digital audio radio services, new subscription services, and 
those that make ephemeral copies for transmission to business 
establishments. The Collective is also charged with distributing the 
royalties to the copyright owners and performers entitled to receive 
them under the section 112 and 114 licenses. See 37 CFR 380.4(d)(1), 
382.5(d)(1), 383.4(a), 384.4(b)(1).
    As the Collective, SoundExchange may, only once a year, conduct an 
audit of a licensee for any or all of the prior three calendar years to 
verify royalty payments. SoundExchange must first file with the Judges 
a notice of intent to audit a licensee and deliver the notice to the 
licensee. See 37 CFR 380.6(b), 382.7(b), 383.4(a) and 384.6(b).
    On December 20, 2024, SoundExchange filed with the Judges notices 
of intent to audit the statements of account submitted by commercial 
webcasters Beasley Mezzanine Holdings, Hubbard Broadcasting, 
iHeartMedia, and Midwest Communications and non-commercial webcaster 
Family Stations for the years 2021, 2022, and 2023. The Judges must 
publish notice in the Federal Register within 30 days of receipt of a 
notice announcing the Collective's intent to conduct an audit. See 37 
CFR 380.6(c) 382.7(c), 383.4(a) and 384.6(c). This notice fulfills the 
Judges' publication obligation with respect to SoundExchange's December 
22, 2023 notices of intent to audit commercial webcasters Beasley 
Mezzanine Holdings, Hubbard Broadcasting, iHeartMedia, and Midwest 
Communications and non-commercial webcaster Family Stations for the 
years 2021, 2022, and 2023.

    Dated: January 8, 2025.
David P. Shaw,
Chief Copyright Royalty Judge.
[FR Doc. 2025-00623 Filed 1-13-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1410-72-P
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