What the Songwriter Coalition Filed and Why It Is Different From How Streaming Pays Now
The Copyright Royalty Board sets the mechanical royalty rates that streaming services must pay for on-demand plays of songs in the United States. Every five years, rights holders and streaming services submit competing proposals to the CRB's three judges, who then weigh the arguments and set a rate that governs the next five-year period. The current Phonorecords IV settlement runs through the end of 2027, which is why parties were required to file their opening proposals for Phonorecords V by October 5, 2026.
The coalition filing the $0.0030 flat rate proposal includes the Songwriters Guild of America and Word Collections, among other songwriter rights organizations. Their core argument is that a flat per-play rate eliminates the distortions created by the current headline-percentage approach, which ties songwriter pay to a platform's total revenue rather than to actual plays. For the full landscape of artists, music rights, and Atlanta's independent music ecosystem, follow Di-VerZe E.N.T's notable work coverage.
The $0.0030 Flat Rate Proposal: What It Is and What It Would Change for Every Stream
Under the proposal, every on-demand interactive stream or limited download would generate a flat $0.0030 mechanical royalty for the songwriter, regardless of which platform pays it or which tier the listener is on. That means a stream on a free ad-supported tier and a stream on a premium subscription plan would both pay the same rate to the songwriter. Under the current Phonorecords IV system, the headline rate is approximately 15.3%, but that figure is calculated against each platform's total revenue — meaning the actual per-stream payout varies widely depending on how much the platform earns in a given period.
The detail box at right summarizes the key figures in this filing. The flat-rate model has been championed by songwriter advocates who argue that a guaranteed floor per play is the only way to ensure that meaningful catalog growth and listener volume actually translate into real income for the writers who created the songs.
Spotify Wants to Keep the Current Deal - Amazon and Apple Also Filed to Maintain Existing Terms
On the other side of the filing, four of the five major streaming services - Spotify, Apple, Amazon, and Google - submitted proposals that would keep the current Phonorecords IV terms largely in place for the entire 2028-2032 period. Spotify's position is that the existing 15.3% headline rate should carry forward with no changes. Amazon's position is more aggressive, seeking lower rates. Publishers and the NMPA, who participate as 'Copyright Owners' alongside the NSAI, have filed on the other end asking for significantly higher rates.
The range between what songwriters want and what streaming services have proposed is wide. The CRB's three judges will hear testimony and evidence from all parties before issuing an initial determination. How independent artists engage with this process — and whether they have their music registered and tracked through proper channels — will determine how much of any rate increase actually reaches them.
What Happens Next: CRB Proceedings and the Road to a Decision
The Phonorecords V proceeding moves into the hearing phase after parties have exchanged initial proposals and discovery documents. The CRB published redacted versions of the proposals on October 7, 2026, the day after the filing deadline. From here, the process includes depositions, pre-hearing motions, and full evidentiary hearings before the CRB's Copyright Royalty Judges. The current schedule places those hearings in early 2027, with an initial determination expected by late 2027 — meaning whatever rate the CRB sets will govern every on-demand stream of your music starting January 1, 2028.
Independent artists who want to understand how to navigate this landscape — including how proper ISRC registration connects radio plays to performance royalties — will find interviews and artist perspectives at Di-VerZe's Atlanta artist interviews section, which covers the full music ecosystem this city's artists are operating in.
What This Fight Means for Independent Artists on Di-VerZe HitZ Radio Right Now
If a flat per-stream rate takes effect in 2028, every documented play of your music — including radio airplay that logs ISRC data — becomes a traceable royalty event. That is why the artists already positioned with their ISRC codes filed and their music in distribution stand to benefit most from any rate increase the CRB grants. Atlanta's independent artists can hear how the radio station plays the sound and reach listeners today through Di-VerZe HitZ Radio, streaming free 24/7 on the web, iOS, and Android.
Independent artists who want their music in rotation — and want every play to be an ISRC-tracked royalty event — can submit music free at Di-VerZe's radio airplay submission page. Include your ISRC code in the submission. With CRB hearings on the horizon and a flat rate still possible, getting your music into documented airplay channels now is the right move.