Judge Denied Summary Judgment in Pandora Lawsuit
A federal judge ordered a jury trial in the ongoing royalty dispute between Pandora and the Mechanical Licensing Collective.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Music — General
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Judge Eli Richardson denied motions for summary judgment on September 30, 2026, opting to send the case against Pandora to a jury trial. The Mechanical Licensing Collective alleges the streamer misclassified its free tier to avoid paying higher interactive royalty rates.
Why it matters
The case hinges on whether Pandora properly categorized its free service tier to comply with statutory licensing requirements. A jury trial will now determine if the platform owes royalties as mandated by the Music Modernization Act.
The litigation file contains 263 documents and exceeds 7,000 pages. Judge Eli Richardson determined that the complexity of the filings increased the likelihood of unresolved factual disputes that require a jury to decide.
The players
Judge Eli Richardson
He is a federal judge presiding over the litigation in Nashville.
Pandora
It is a digital music streaming service currently facing allegations regarding royalty payments.
Mechanical Licensing Collective
It is an organization established by the Music Modernization Act to administer mechanical licenses.
The details
The Mechanical Licensing Collective filed the lawsuit in 2024, claiming that Pandora intentionally misclassified its service to bypass interactive streaming payment obligations. Pandora has formally denied these allegations of royalty underpayment throughout the proceedings.
Timeline
The Mechanical Licensing Collective filed suit against Pandora in 2024.
Judge Eli Richardson issued an order denying summary judgment on September 30, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This litigation highlights the ongoing challenges of enforcing royalty payment obligations under the Music Modernization Act. The case illustrates how complex streaming service tiers continue to test the limits of statutory licensing frameworks within the modern music industry.
The outcome of this trial could influence how streaming services price and offer free subscription tiers to listeners. Depending on the jury verdict, users might see changes in service availability or platform pricing structures.
The takeaway
The move to a jury trial suggests that the court requires further evidence to settle the dispute over royalty classifications. Both parties may still opt for a settlement to avoid the uncertainty and expense of a full courtroom trial.
Further reading
Learn more about the evolving landscape of digital music compensation in the Music — General section.
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Should digital streaming platforms be subject to stricter royalty payment enforcement by industry organizations?
