National Radio Signs Copyright Agreement with MUSICAUTOR

Sofia, June 21 (BTA) - On June 20, 2017 the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) and the MUSICAUTOR collective rights management society signed an agreement on the copyright to the music it broadcasts in all its 12 programme, MUSICAUTOR said in a press release on Wednesday.

Since the beginning of the year, the BNR has been broadcasting contemporary music without the prior written permission of its author and has thus been violating the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act. Such a permission was granted on Tuesday upon the signature of the contract.

Under the agreement, an increase of royalties will be phased in, as proposed by MUSICAUTOR at the start of negotiations a year ago. Instead of five years, however, the period of the increase has been cut to three years, i.e. until the end of the term of office of the present BNR management. The new agreement reckons with realities in recent years - a substantial increase in the amount of music used by the BNR. As the next step, under the law, the agreement should be endorsed by the Association of Bulgarian Broadcasters (ABBRO), which is the representative organization of the broadcasting industry, the press release points out.