The Copyright Royalty Board released a preliminary ruling in October 2008, establishing mechanical royalty rates for the new digital era, including the first-ever statutory royalties for on-demand streams, limited downloads, and ringtones, as well as for physical recordings and permanent digital downloads (DPDs). The decision is still pending final approval, but is anticipated to be finalized Spring 2009. The proposed schedule of rates is set below, but is subject to alterations until the final decision is published by the Register of Copyrights. The rates will be effective once this final decision is published, and record labels, online music services, and other licensees will have 180 days to include these royalties in their regular royalty reports. The new schedule of mechanical rates, which will be in effect after final publication in the Federal Register until December 31, 2012, is:

Physical recordings:
9.1 ¢ for recordings five minutes or less; for recordings over 5 minutes, 1.75 ¢ for each minute, rounded up.

Permanent Digital Downloads (DPDs):
9.1 ¢ for recordings five minutes or less; for recordings over 5 minutes, 1.75 ¢ for each minute, rounded up.

Mastertone Ringtunes:
24¢ (for non-derivative uses)

Rates for limited downloads and on-demand streams vary by service offering.

Mechanical licenses are required under U.S. Copyright Law if one wants to duplicate and distribute a recording of a song that is owned by someone else whether in a physical or digital configuration. Through proper licensing, the publisher, and ultimately, the songwriter, are compensated for the use of their work.

Effective July 1, 2009, Music Services represents the Christian music catalog of Razor & Tie Music Publishing, LLC, which includes such publishers as Bambalam Music, Lil Jas Music, My Maxx Songs, Nat-In-The-Hat Music, NCMullen Songs and No Gang Music Publishing among others.

The publishing roster includes such writers as Natalie Grant, Phillip LaRue, Stephanie Lewis and Nicole C. Mullen, among others.

Razor & Tie Music Publishing, LLC is part of Razor & Tie Entertainment. New York-based Razor & Tie Entertainment is one of the fastest growing independent entertainment companies in the United States and is the parent company of Kidz Bop, LLC. Razor & Tie successfully sells audio and video products through traditional retail distribution, a wide variety of digital outlets, and direct response television advertising.

To secure a license for the use of administered songs from this catalog click on the Search link under the Songs heading at the right. As always, for best search results, use a few key words and search by title and/or writer name only.