The latest issue of Music & Copyright is now available for subscribers to download. Here are some of the highlights.
EC green-lights GEMA, PRS, and STIM pan-European online music licensing hub
The European Commission has given its approval to a joint online music-licensing venture between the three European collection societies GEMA, PRS for Music, and STIM. In January, the EC began an-depth investigation to determine if the venture was in line with European Union regulations on mergers. The investigation was launched after a preliminary investigation suggested that the combination of music repertoires currently controlled by the three collection societies could result in higher prices and worsened commercial conditions for digital service providers in the European Economic Area. In a joint statement, GEMA, PRS for Music, and STIM said the new hub will transform pan-European music licensing by enabling ease of access for digital music services to music rights as well as provide faster and more accurate payments of royalties to writers and their music publishers.
Both BUMA and STEMRA report collection growth in 2014
Dutch authors’ societies BUMA and STEMRA have reported a third consecutive year of growth in joint collections after three consecutive annual falls. Combined income for the two collection societies increased 5.3% last year, with gains reported in both performance and mechanical rights. Strong growth in streaming in the Netherlands resulted in an almost doubling of digital collections for BUMA. However, streaming remains a tiny source of revenue for authors and publishers in the country.
US Copyright Office opens up the debate on the future of orphan works
The US Copyright Office (USCO) has begun a new review of how best to deal with orphan works and mass digitization under the country’s copyright law. Earlier this year, the USCO asked for comments from stakeholders and held a number of public roundtables in Washington D.C. The culmination of viewpoints, as well as an analysis of issues impacting orphan works and mass digitization efforts along with a series of recommendations, has been published in a new report. The USCO has requested written comments on its recommendations be submitted by early August.
After the indie and Swift storm, Apple Music is all set to deliver the music streaming tipping point
Apple’s foray into music streaming has been a long time coming but Apple Music is set to hit the ground running. However, those who expected cool Apple to innovate in the streaming space need to “think different” as the company has designed a service which is pretty much a grab bag of features already out in the market. While that may be a disappointment for some, it is not necessarily a bad move. All Apple needs to do is provide a good, dependable music streaming service akin to Spotify’s and its marketing clout and the huge global penetration rate of its consumer electronics devices should ensure that becomes market leader. However, Apple Music is not about to wipe out the competition and the service’s launch will serve to lift most streamers’ boats.
France country report
In addition to the usual set of music industry statistics and news briefs, the latest issue of Music & Copyright includes a detailed France music industry profile. The French music industry experienced a contracted 2014 with recorded music sales and royalty collections both suffering a decline after a positive 2013. Despite the rise in music subscription and streaming revenue, continued falls in CD album and music download sales dragged down overall recorded music trade income. French authors’ society SACEM also suffered a reversal of fortune with the ongoing decrease in mechanicals overshadowing digital and broadcasting gains. France’s live music industry is highly competitive with national and international promoters battling for big name representation. High fees charged by leading artists make it difficult for promoters to return a profit and the increased concentration on bigger shows and festivals is causing a real headache for the country’s smaller events.
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