(a) Royalty fees. During the period 2026-2030, royalty rates for Commercial Broadcasters making Nonsubscription Digital Audio Transmissions of sound recordings pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 114,and.S.C. 112(e) to facilitate such transmissions, are as follows:

(1) 2026: $0.0028 per Performance;

(2) 2027: $0.0029 per Performance;

(3) 2028: $0.0030 per Performance;

(4) 2029: $0.0031 per Performance; and

(5) 2030: $0.0032 per Performance.

(b) Minimum fee. (1) Subject to paragraph (b)(2) of this section, Commercial Broadcasters making Nonsubscription Digital Audio Transmissions of sound recordings pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 114 must pay the Collective a minimum fee as follows each year for each channel or station:

(i) 2026: $1,100;

(ii) 2027: $1,150;

(iii) 2028: $1,200;

(iv) 2029: $1,250; and

(v) 2030: $1,250.

(2) The Collective must apply the fee to the Commercial Broadcaster's account as credit towards any additional royalty fees that the Commercial Broadcaster may incur under this subpart in the same year. The fee is payable for each individual channel and each individual station maintained or operated by the Commercial Broadcaster and making Nonsubscription Digital Audio Transmissions of sound recordings pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 114 during each calendar year or part of a calendar year during which it is a Licensee. The maximum aggregate minimum fee that a Commercial Broadcaster making Nonsubscription Digital Audio Transmissions of sound recordings pursuant to 17 U.S.C.114 must pay under this subpart in any calendar year is 100 multiplied by the applicable amount specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section. The minimum fee is nonrefundable.

(c) Ephemeral Recordings royalty fees; allocation between Ephemeral Recordings and performance royalty fees. The Collective must credit 5% of all royalty payments under this subpart as payment for Ephemeral Recordings and credit the remaining 95% to section 114 royalties. All Ephemeral Recordings that a Commercial Broadcaster makes which are necessary and commercially reasonable for making noninteractive Nonsubscription Digital Audio Transmissions are included in the 5%.