Our panel from both Radio and TV Music License Committees will discuss the latest developments in the world of music performance licensing.  The panel will provide updates on license negotiations and address where we are with the PROs – both new and old – ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and GMR.

We will also answer frequently asked questions –

• Who decides what my station pays for music performances licenses?
• How can I save money?
• Will my fees be going up?
• What’s going on with GMR?

Join us to learn more.

Janet E. McHugh is a seasoned corporate executive and attorney with experience in the finance, energy and broadcast industries.  Prior to TVMLC, she was an attorney with Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. where she handled and managed operational legal matters including the negotiation of commercial contracts, real estate, and music licensing.  Her Sinclair duties also included certain accounting and administrative responsibilities such as the management of Sinclair’s insurance program and working with local station business managers on music licensing.

Prior to Sinclair, Janet served as Deputy General Counsel and Senior Vice President of Human Resources for Constellation Energy Group, Inc., now Exelon Corporation.  Janet understands and appreciates the impact of music performance license fees on TV broadcast stations in both large and small markets.  Janet is a summa cum laude graduate of Clemson University and Duke University School of Law.  In her spare time, Janet chairs the Maryland State Ethics Commission by appointment of Governor Larry Hogan.  Janet has two children – a son at Duke University and a daughter who is a television reporter at KVAL in Eugene, Oregon.

Bill Velez is an industry veteran of forty-five years.  Velez’ career came full circle when he assumed the post of Executive Director of the Radio Music License Committee, a non-profit that represents the majority of the nation’s commercial radio stations in license fee matters involving performance right organizations such as ASCAP, BMI and SESAC.  His first job out of college was working as a radio licensing executive for ASCAP and, prior to joining the RMLC, his career was distinguished by having been employed by all three performance right organizations in the U.S. — ASCAP, BMI and, more recently, as President/COO of SESAC.

Under Velez’ direction at SESAC, the company introduced pattern recognition technology for the purpose of monitoring radio airplay and digital watermarking for the purpose of monitoring music performances on local television.  This pioneering application of state-of-the-art technology led to SESAC’s introduction of an unprecedented “per play” form of radio industry license as well as the most accurate and fastest royalty distributions in the industry.

Velez’ education includes a B.A. (English) from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law.  He has taught music industry and ethics courses as an Adjunct Professor at New York University and Nashville’s Belmont University and is an alumnus of Nashville’s Leadership Music program.

Apart from his professional career, Velez enjoys performing in musical theatre and working as a volunteer with various children’s organizations.