It was announced today (Jan. 30) that the Radio Music License Committee (RMLC) and BMI have reached an agreement in principle to settle their ongoing rate dispute, entering into a new multi-year deal covering the 2017-2021 period. The new license carries a rate that reflects the strength of BMI’s repertoire and its share of radio spins, which is higher than any other Performing Rights Organization.

BMI President & CEO, Mike O’Neill stated, “We’re pleased to reach an agreement with the RMLC that reflects a much more appropriate value for our affiliates’ music. While litigation is sometimes a necessary step, our preference is always to work out an amicable solution with our licensing partners while continually keeping the best interests of our songwriters top of mind. BMI looks forward to working with the RMLC to improve transparency in the marketplace and enhance the flow of information between our two organizations.”

Chair of the RMLC, Ed Atsinger stated, “We are happy that our impasse with BMI has reached an amicable conclusion. The radio industry believes strongly that songwriters should be compensated fairly, and with BMI’s support, we hope that this deal will assist others in the music licensing community in determining fair rates for everyone on both sides.”

In addition to the new agreed-upon rate, which is retroactive to 2017, the RMLC has agreed to a one-time payment to BMI for litigation fees. The new agreement also clarifies and preserves the platforms that are covered by the scope of the license and associated revenue, including over-the-air broadcasts, as well as the stations’ simulcast streaming, podcasts and HD radio.

The final deal implementing the parties’ agreement in principle in a mutually acceptable long-form agreement is subject to the Court’s full approval.

Chris Lane had plenty to celebrate with a pair of recent Nashville events. On Jan. 23, he brought his headlining Big, Big Plans tour to Nashville’s Marathon Music Works. On Tuesday (Jan. 28), he welcomed revelers to celebrate his second No. 1 hit, “I Don’t Know About You.”

ASCAP and BMI hosted the party, held at the quirky, vibrant and newly-opened hotel The Graduate Nashville. ASCAP’s Evyn Mustoe and BMI’s MaryAnn Keen hosted the shindig.

Lane was surprised with another accolade during the No. 1 party, a plaque commemorating the RIAA Platinum certification for “I Don’t Know About You.” The honor also marks Lane’s second Platinum-certified song.

“I Don’t Know About You” was co-written by songwriting kingpen Ashley Gorley (ASCAP) and is his 44th No. 1 song, though he now has 47 No. 1 songs to date.

“He’s been to more No. 1 parties this year than I’ve been to church,” said “I Don’t Know About You” co-writer Michael Hardy.

In addition to Gorley and the BMI-aligned Hardy, other writers on the song include the ASCAP-aligned writers Jameson Rodgers and Hunter Phelps, who both cemented their very first No. 1 song with the track.

Phelps moved to Nashville in 2012, and is published by Gorley’s Tape Room Music.

Rodgers is signed to Combustion Music as a writer and with River House/Columbia as an artist. One of his most recent cuts is “Born Here, Live Here, Die Here,” the title track for superstar Luke Bryan’s upcoming project.

“I Don’t Know About You” is the latest hit from Michael Hardy (who goes by HARDY on his albums). He co-wrote Morgan Wallen’s “Up Down” and Blake Shelton’s “God’s Country,” and is signed with Relative Music Group for publishing. He released his debut EP via Big Loud Records/Tree Vibez in 2018, and more recently released his Hixtape Vol. 1 collection of collaborations with artists such as Thomas Rhett and Keith Urban.

Among the celebrants were Combustion Music’s Chris Farren, Relative Music Group’s Dennis Matkosky, Round Hill Music’s Mark Brown, Big Loud’s Seth England, Warner Chappell’s Ryan Beuschel, and Tape Room Music’s Blain Rhodes.

“This one was just really fun. I’m thankful Blain and the team picked Big Loud and Seth to go to for this song. We have a great relationship with them and they always come through. We trust their ears and their systems on songs like this,” Gorley said.

Gorley also thanked the Big Loud promo team for sticking with the song, which took 52 weeks to reach No. 1.

“This one was special. Hunter and I were talking and the song was in the ‘danger zone,’ the 36 or 37 on the chart. I said, ‘I feel like this song is either going to die soon or it’s going to be a No. 1 record.’ He was like, ‘I’d prefer one of those a lot over the other.’ I said, ‘Well, I can’t tell you [which will happen], but it depends on the tenacity of the team.’ And you guys came through,” Gorley said.

“I think this was the first time Ashley was on time for a write,” Phelps quipped. “I usually show up a bit later, but he was on time that day so I was in a hurry to get there, and I actually ended up getting pulled over on the way to write this song. I got a nice little ticket, so I want to start by thanking Chris Lane for taking care of that ticket for me.

“Thank you to Seth England for believing in songs we send over his way,” Phelps added. “Joey Moi ,I’ve been a fan of you before I even knew it. I listened to Nickelback, the ‘Animals’ record like 5,000 times when I was 16 year old. Chris, thank you for recording this song. I thank God for this…I prayed for this one and this is the best day of my life.”

Hardy, Phelps and Rodgers have been friends for several years, and all three are also co-writers on the recent Florida Georgia Line song “Talk You Out Of It.”

Hardy said, “I don’t know if y’all know how tight the three of us are as buddies. There seriously was a time when…this was a pipe dream for us. It is really surreal that this is here and it’s something to be really grateful for, especially when you get to do it with some of your best friends.”

“You dream about writing your first No. 1 song and stand on stage like this, but the best part, like Michael said, is writing it with some of your best friends,” Rodgers said.

Addressing Lane, Rodgers said, “It’s inspiring watching you do your thing on stage. You crushed it the other night at Marathon. Thank you for giving me a hit song to play in my show as well. Thank you for the opportunity and I’m grateful to be standing here.”

“Thank you to all the songwriters who wrote a smash of a song and allowed me to sing it,” Lane said. “This song has changed my life and changed my career in so many ways. Thank you for believing in me, when any of y’all could have cut it and made it a hit. This was a big one for me, so thank you, I love you guys.”

Black River Entertainment has signed its first duo to the label roster, Pryor & Lee. The country duo includes former The Voice contestants Kaleb Lee and Pryor Baird, who each finished in the Top 6 on the show.

After meeting while competing (and initially collaborating) on The Voice, each pursued solo careers, with Pryor touring in support of his 2019 EP All Over Me, while Lee released the track “I Dream in Southern,” penned by Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne and Brandy Clark. Lee returned to The Voice last year to perform the track with Kelly Clarkson.

Black River Entertainment CEO Gordon Kerr said of the signing, “Even though this seems very quick, it really is not. We’ve talked about wanting a duo for a long time, we just didn’t know it was you, and now we do.”

While signing their contract, Pryor expressed his enthusiasm for the next chapter. “This is literally a dream come true…I got a guitar when I was two and a half, and I’ve dreamt of this day my whole life,” Pryor said.

Lee added, “I couldn’t be more pumped for this new project and the team behind it! I immediately knew it was something special when Pryor and I recorded music together in late 2019 but having Black River get excited just solidified my feelings.”

Pryor & Lee will hit the road for the “Country’s Back” tour beginning March 1 in Fontana, California.