An alliance of songwriters and composers have voiced concerns over the potential withdrawal by publishers of rights and repertoire from performing rights organisations, ASCAP and BMI.

Last year, Sony/ATV boss Martin Bandier (pictured) started a quest to gain permission in the US to withdraw his clients' digital rights from ASCAP and BMI - in order to negotiate directly with online 'radio' platforms such as Pandora.

Around the same time, former Live Nation chairman, Irving Azoff, launched Global Music ...