Public radio music stations face an unknown future related to music rights. Paragon’s Mike Henry has researched the issue and can report the following—

  1. The Performing Rights Organization (PRO) licenses for public radio and TV have been paid through their agreement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting through the end of calendar year 2025.
  2. Those PRO licenses have been negotiated through calendar year 2027 for a reported $8.7 million a year, but who or how that gets paid for 2026 and 2027 remains the question.[i]
  3. The Sound Exchange license is set until calendar year 2030, but again it’s not known yet who or how those fees will be paid after 2025.[ii]

We understand that CPB continues to work on a solution for the stations’ benefit. There are also conversations between NPR and leading music stations with the same goal. Paragon will report more as it develops.

CPB Statement:

[i] With the elimination of CPB funding, we are working to address a number of issues affecting stations, including music rights. CPB is in negotiations with the rights holding organizations to determine next steps on ensuring that stations will continue to be covered by the agreements. CPB’s current agreement with ASCAP,BMI, SESAC, GMR, and Harry Fox run through December 31, 2027. The agreements are paid through December 31, 2025

[ii] We have also just completed a new five-year agreement with SoundExchange. It will take time to renegotiate these complex agreements, and we will keep the system informed of our progress.”

CPB 7-31-25