The National Music Publishers Association sent take-down notices to 50 lyric sites under speculation of not having licenses for certain content. On the top of that list is Rap Genius.The notices give the websites an ultimatum – either obtain licenses for the content or take it down. This motion comes after the release of a report by University of Georgia researcher David Lowery.

“Based on the popularity of lyric searches, it is possible that unlike the sound recording business, the lyric business may be more valuable in the Internet age,” Lowery wrote in the report. “Indeed, the vast majority of these websites seem to have well established monetization schemes based on advertising. Many of the sites appear to have accounts with major online advertising exchanges and prominently feature advertising from!major brands. There are even companies that appear to specialize in matching specific lyrics to key demographics for advertisers.”

David Israelite, Chief Executive of the NMPA, said that the take-down notices are a precursor to filing copyright infringement lawsuits against sites that continue to publish song lyrics that they don’t have the licenses to, according to billboard.com.

“This is not a campaign against personal blogs, fan sites, or the many websites that provide lyrics legally,” Israelite said. Rather, the NMPA “is targeting fifty sites that engage in blatant illegal behavior.”

Here’s a list of the 50 lyric sites that received notice, check and see if you’re familiar with any of them,

www.rapgenius.com

www.lyricsmania.com

www.lyricstranslate.com

www.stlyrics.com

www.lyricsreg.com

www.lyricstime.com

www.lyrster.com

www.paroles-musique.com

www.kovideo.net

www.songonlyrics.com

www.index-of-mp3s.com

www.lyricstranslations.com

www.karaoke-lyrics.net

www.romantic-lyrics.com

www.maxilyrics.com

www.poemhunter.com

www.metal-head.org

www.songteksten.nl

www.lyricsres.com

www.lyricsdepot.com

www.songtextemania.com

www.lyricsboy.com

www.elyricsworld.com

www.e-chords.com

www.popdust.com

www.hotnewsonglyrics.co

www.anysonglyrics.com

www.guitaretab.com

www.allthelyrics.com

www.oldielyrics.com

www.musicloversgroup.com

www.karafun.com

www.lyrics.astraweb.com

www.videokeman.com

www.lybio.net

www.urbanlyrics.com

www.asklyrics.com

www.bmusiclyrics.com

www.nomorelyrics.net

www.plyrics.com

www.hitslyrics.com

www.vagalume.com.br

www.lyricsforsong.net

www.seeklyrics.com

www.letras.mus.br

www.lyricspinas.com

www.parolesmania.com

www.cowboylyrics.com

www.lyricsmansion.com

– Keith Reid-Cleveland