This week Pandora negotiated directly with Universal Music Publishing Group, one of the largest music publishers, to acquire continued use of UMPG recordings in its streaming stations. BMI recently won a court judgment against Pandora, which allowed its client publishing companies (like UMPG) to escape the government-set “consent decree,” which provides a blanket usage license to listening outlets like Pandora. Pandora normally sticks with government-set rates, but was nudged onto the direct-negotiating path by that surprising court decision. Read more.