The Global Music Rights organization is claiming that some university licensees owe them licensing fees not covered by the universal CPB agreement. GMR has sent threatening communications to at least one University, and probably more, trying to strong arm payment.
According to WEKU’s FCC attorney, “US Copyright law allows public broadcasting to use ANY music under copyright without any advance permission. This is called the public broadcasting copyright compulsory license. Commercial stations do not have any access to this license.
Bottom line: noncommercial stations are outside GMR’s reach until the end of 2022, after which point, the Copyright Office will consider future noncommercial rates.