Important Notice: Effective August 22, 2018, the U.S. Music Royalty Fee for SiriusXM Streaming Platinum and Latino y Mas decreased from 19.1% to 8.8% of the price of those plans.

Details about the U.S. Music Royalty Fee for SiriusXM Streaming Platinum and Latino Y Mas plans are provided below.

1. Why does SiriusXM Radio pay music royalties?

Music royalty rights were established by Congress and are the product of the Copyright Act. Unlike terrestrial radio, SiriusXM is required to pay copyright music royalties to recording artists, musicians and recording labels that hold copyrights in sound recordings (the actual recording of a work) that were fixed after February 15, 1972. Like terrestrial radio, SiriusXM must also pay music publishers who hold copyrights in musical compositions (or the lyrics and music) through their collective organizations such as ASCAP and BMI. The U.S. Music Royalty Fee offsets royalties payable by SiriusXM to composers, publishers, recording artists, musicians and record labels that hold copyrights in musical works and recordings.

2. Who benefits from the U.S. Music Royalty Fee?

The U.S. Music Royalty Fee funds existing and anticipated royalty payments to the music industry, which includes writers and artists.

3. How much is the U.S. Music Royalty Fee?

Your fee may vary depending on the package and plan term you have chosen and the number of subscriptions on your account. We may adjust the U.S. Music Royalty Fee from time to time to reflect changes in our royalty costs. For our current U.S. Music Royalty Fee and the fees effective beginning August 22, 2018, click here. 

4. Did the U.S. Music Royalty Fee Change in 2018?

The effective rate used to calculate our U.S. Music Royalty Fee for subscription plans which include music channels has been in effect since January, 2015 and did not change in 2016 and 2017. The U.S. Music Royalty Fee did change for most plans beginning February 15, 2018. Effective as of February 15, 2018, the U.S. Music Royalty Fee increased from 13.9% to 19.1% of the price of all audio plans which include music channels. The increase is a result of the recent decision by the Copyright Royalty Board of the Library of Congress. As of August 22, 2018, the U.S. Music Royalty Fee for SiriusXM Streaming Platinum and Latino y Mas plans decreased from 19.1% to 8.8% of the price of those plans.

5. How is the U.S. Music Royalty Fee calculated?

The U.S. Music Royalty Fee is based on the entire subscription price of the package you purchase that includes musical performances. The U.S. Music Royalty Fee applies to most audio plans.*

6. Why is the SiriusXM U.S. Music Royalty Fee a % that’s different from the recent decision by the Copyright Royalty Board?

The recent decision by the Copyright Royalty Board increased just one of the music royalties that SiriusXM must pay. SiriusXM is required to pay music royalties to recording artists and recording labels that hold copyrights in sound recordings – those royalties increased by the recent decision – as well as writers and music publishers who hold copyrights in musical compositions through their collective organizations such as ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. The U.S. Music Royalty Fee reflects royalties payable by SiriusXM for all these rights, not just those increased by the recent Copyright Royalty Board decision.

7. Do all SiriusXM subscribers pay the same U.S. Music Royalty Fee?

The fee for your specific subscription will vary based on the package and plan term you have chosen and number of subscriptions on your account.

8. When will I pay the U.S. Music Royalty Fee?

If applicable, the U.S. Music Royalty Fee is automatically added to the cost of your subscription, along with any state and local taxes we are required to collect based upon your address.

9. Is the U.S. Music Royalty Fee applied to activations and other fees?

No.

* Plans that are not charged the U.S. Music Royalty Fee include News, Sports, & Talk, Traffic, Travel Link, Weather, Marine Weather, and Aviation Weather.