Below is a statement from Martin Bandier, Chairman and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, in response to a ruling against the Department of Justice by the BMI rate court judge, Judge Stanton, that nothing in the BMI consent decree gives support to 100% licensing.  

“We are thrilled with Judge Stanton’s common sense interpretation of the consent decree which clarifies that BMI is not required to grant 100% licenses. His statement that “nothing in the consent decree gives support to the division’s views” could not be clearer. While the DOJ’s interpretation would have upended decades of licensing practices and caused uncertainty and disorder to everyone in the marketplace, Judge Stanton’s ruling is in the public interest and will benefit all interested parties in the music industry, including songwriters, music publishers and licensors. We can now focus once again on working on behalf of our songwriters”