Media

Executive vp/general counsel, NMPA

WON A 44 PERCENT RISE IN STREAMING RATES: Thanks largely to Israelite and Aguirre, the NMPA scored two big wins in 2018: a verdict in a Copyright Royalty Board case that will raise interactive streaming royalty rates 44 percent in the next five years and the passage of the Music Modernization Act, which will give publishers more control over mechanical royalties. "The MMA changed the paradigm of what it means to represent the music business in Washington, D.C., because we built a coalition," says Israelite, who did a good deal of the building. Aguirre, who led the CRB litigation, says there's still work to be done: "Passing the MMA got us to the 50-yard line -- we have to build the MLC [music licensing collective]. The law really just says, 'Get to work guys.'"