Music Licensing Made Easy

The Television Music License Committee negotiates music performance rights licenses with ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC on behalf of full-power local commercial television stations across the U.S.

The Television Music License Committee (TVMLC) is a non-profit trade association, that represents all full-power, commercial television stations in the United States and its territories in negotiations for music performance rights licenses that stations sign with the two largest Performing Rights Organizations (PRO’s), ASCAP and BMI. Through a settlement of a lawsuit filed by some broadcasters and funded by the TVMLC, SESAC has agreed to negotiate industry-wide licenses with the Committee through 2035.

We also designed the method of allocating industry-wide fees among all of the stations licensed by ASCAP, BMI and SESAC (the vast majority of local television stations), subject to agreement of the PRO or court approval and then we calculate the fees billed to each individual station. After stations sign their individual agreements, we try to help resolve problems between stations and all of the PRO’s.

We are the station’s advocate.

Who We Represent

We Represent

Full-Power Local Commercial Television Stations

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We Negotiate With

The PROs – ASCAP, BMI and SESAC

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How We Help

What We Do

We work with local television stations by:

  • Negotiating licenses with ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC (PROs).

  • Funding and managing legal proceedings if negotiations are unsuccessful.

  • Allocating industrywide fees among all stations licensed by ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC (subject to PRO agreement or court approval).

  • Calculating the fees billed to individual stations.

  • Helping stations resolve issues with ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC.

  • Monitoring industry and legislative changes that may impact local TV stations.

  • Educating local TV stations about music licensing, its financial impact, and ways to reduce licensing fees.

What We Don’t Do

  • The TVMLC negotiates with ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC but is not a PRO. Performance rights license fees for ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC are billed and paid directly by stations to these organizations.

  • We do not represent networks, cable TV, public TV, non-commercial TV stations, low-power TV stations, radio stations, or streaming services.

  • We do not administer the per program license, although, we work closely with companies that do. For these, please contact your third-party per-program administrator, such as Music Reports Inc. or W.G. Slantz.

Understand Your Licensing Options

Learn about the different types of licenses available for local TV stations and how they impact your music performance license fees.

Learn more about PROs and Licensing

  • Allows stations to broadcast any song in ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC’s repertory for a single, flat fee on an annual basis.

  • The blanket fee is reduced for programming that uses cleared music. The fee is based on the amount of cleared music and varies every month. For stations affiliated with a major network and that produce local programming, this license can produce significant savings off of your blanket license fee.

  • ASCAP offers an alternative blanket license; a hybrid option that reduces fees for stations that clear a portion of their music while still providing full access to the ASCAP repertory. The fee is adjusted based on the percentage of cleared music used.

Have Questions About Music Licensing?

TVMLC is here to help. Whether you need guidance on performance rights, fee allocations, or license negotiations, our team is ready to assist.