Indie PRO AllTrack and Congress Forge Pact on Licensing Transparency

WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 04, 2026 – AllTrack, a performing rights organization (PRO) focused on independent creators, has reached a set of resolutions with Representative Scott Fitzgerald's office following high-level meetings on Capitol Hill. The discussions aimed to address mounting concerns over transparency in the complex world of music licensing, culminating in concrete changes to AllTrack’s public-facing information and eliminating the need for further inquiry.

The meetings mark a significant development in an ongoing effort by lawmakers to bring clarity to the music rights marketplace, a landscape that has grown more fragmented with the emergence of new PROs. For businesses that play music, the system can be a confusing web of overlapping licenses. For artists, it can be an opaque 'black box' where royalties disappear. AllTrack's proactive engagement with policymakers suggests a new front in the battle for a more understandable and equitable system, with the disruptive force of artificial intelligence looming as the next major challenge.

The Roots of Scrutiny

The groundwork for this week's meetings was laid six months ago. On December 8, 2025, Rep. Fitzgerald (R-WI) sent a formal letter to the FTC, urging the commission to investigate what he termed “potential unfair or deceptive acts or practices” by newer PROs, specifically naming AllTrack and a competitor, Pro Music Rights. This move escalated a campaign for transparency that Fitzgerald had begun over a year prior with an inquiry to the U.S. Copyright Office.

The core of the Congressman's concern, detailed in the FTC letter, was the potential for PROs to mislead businesses licensing music. He argued that some organizations might misrepresent the scope of their catalogs by featuring famous artists on their websites, even if they only held rights to a small fraction of that artist's work, such as a single composition. This practice, he contended, could confuse a small business owner into purchasing a license that offers little value for their specific needs, a potential violation of the FTC Act. The letter followed a Copyright Office inquiry that concluded in November 2025 without mandating industry-wide changes, prompting Fitzgerald to take his concerns to the consumer protection agency.

The allegations drew a sharp response from the other PRO named in the letter, which decried the move as politically motivated and factually inaccurate, highlighting the intense competition and friction among established and emerging rights organizations.

Resolving the Inquiry: Transparency in Practice

Rather than engage in a public battle, AllTrack chose the path of direct diplomacy. The PRO, which launched in 2017, sent a delegation of executives and songwriters to Washington to meet with Rep. Fitzgerald's office and other members of Congress. According to AllTrack, the result was a set of “mutually agreeable resolutions” that effectively addresses the concerns and eliminates “the need for further inquiry.”

These resolutions are not abstract promises. They have led to tangible changes, most notably on AllTrack's website. Following suggestions from the Congressman's office, the company has now added a prominent link to its full repertoire in its website header, making it easier for potential licensees to search and verify the works it represents. Previously, this information was less visible in the site's footer. Furthermore, the organization has voluntarily enhanced disclosures on its homepage, clarifying that featured artists are sometimes performers of works in its catalog rather than direct clients, reflecting the company’s multi-faceted business across performance, mechanical, and neighboring rights.

“One of AllTrack’s core missions is to help businesses clear the music rights they need simply, affordably, and with confidence, on behalf of the creators we represent,” said Hayden Bower, Founder and CEO of AllTrack, in a statement. “Well-informed licensees and fairly compensated creators are signs of a healthy performance licensing market, and we welcome any conversation, whether with businesses, creators, or regulators, that makes music licensing clearer.”

A Crowded Field and a Unique Niche

AllTrack's engagement with Congress also highlights its unique position in the U.S. music industry. For decades, the landscape was dominated by giants ASCAP and BMI, with the smaller, invitation-only SESAC as a third major player. AllTrack entered the field with a specific mission: to serve the independent music community, which it claims is the fastest-growing segment of the industry.

What truly sets the company apart, and a key part of its pitch to creators, is its integrated rights model. It asserts it is the only U.S. PRO to offer administration for public performance, mechanical, and neighboring rights through a single platform. Traditionally, an artist would need to work with separate entities for each of these royalty streams - a PRO for radio play and live performance, a publisher or the Mechanical Licensing Collective for sales and streams, and an administrator like SoundExchange for digital performance of the sound recording itself. AllTrack's one-stop-shop approach is designed to simplify this notoriously complex process for independent artists who often lack the resources of major label acts.

This specialization and integrated model are central to AllTrack's identity, but the broader industry context remains contentious. The scrutiny from Rep. Fitzgerald was fueled in part by commentary from incumbent PROs during the 2025 Copyright Office inquiry, revealing the competitive tensions that define the sector. While AllTrack sought resolution, other new entrants have opted for more aggressive legal and public relations strategies, accusing legacy players of anti-competitive behavior.

The AI Elephant in the Room

Beyond immediate transparency concerns, the discussions on Capitol Hill also ventured into the most pressing technological challenge facing the music industry today: artificial intelligence. The topic's inclusion signals a growing urgency among both creators and policymakers to establish rules of the road for generative AI.

Industry stakeholders have voiced alarm that existing laws, including the landmark Music Modernization Act of 2018, are already becoming obsolete. The primary concerns revolve around the unauthorized use of copyrighted music to train AI models and the subsequent generation of new works that can mimic artists' styles or even voices without consent or compensation. A recent global study predicted that music creators could lose nearly a quarter of their income to AI in the coming years.

By engaging with lawmakers on AI, AllTrack is positioning itself as a forward-thinking advocate for its independent members, who may be most vulnerable to the economic disruption. Congress is in the early stages of exploring legislative solutions, such as the proposed NO FAKES Act, which aims to protect an artist's voice and likeness from unauthorized digital replication. AllTrack’s participation ensures that the perspective of the independent creator is part of this foundational policy-making process, shaping the future of music royalties in an era of unprecedented technological change.

Correction Note: This article has been updated to accurately reflect the scope of AllTrack's regulatory engagement. The headline, teaser, and text have been corrected to clarify that AllTrack reached an agreement specifically with Representative Scott Fitzgerald’s office to resolve his inquiries, rather than establishing a broader pact with Congress or engaging in direct proceedings with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).