ASCAP had argued that its songwriter and composer members were due a public performance royalty - on top of the existing mechanical payment - and would lose out on tens of millions of dollars in potential royalty payments as a result.

The lower court had previously ruled that a download did not constitute a public performance so ASCAP took the case to the Supreme Court. It upheld the original ruling.

With 295,000 members, ASCAP represents just under half of the ...