Critics Question Phonorecords V Settlement Record

Independent songwriters Helienne Lindvall, David Lowery, and Blake Morgan have filed comments objecting to the proposed Phonorecords V settlement for mechanical royalties. They argue that the Copyright Royalty Judges lack a proper economic record to justify the settlement's reasonableness, particularly its reliance on the 12¢ Phonorecords IV benchmark indexed for inflation. The commenters contend that while CPI preserves real value, it does not establish that the rate remains fair for the 2028–2032 period. This challenge highlights concerns about vertically integrated companies influencing rates on both sides of the negotiation.