The latest issue of Music & Copyright is now available for subscribers to download. Here are some of the highlights.
Funding vehicles offer opportunities to music companies
Although music industry revenue continues to increase on the back of rising streaming sales, the financial benefits aren’t spread evenly among record labels or artists, nor do they help those ailing segments of the live music sector. That’s why governments around the world support music businesses and musicians through funding programs. However, state funding is often in short supply, with music often in competition for finance with other creative endeavors. This means there are opportunities for private enterprises to step up to the plate to ensure a pipeline of talent and content necessary for commercial exploitation.
SiriusXM settles legal disputes with SoundExchange
SiriusXM and SoundExchange have settled their litigation surrounding outstanding claims from the beginning of 2007 to the end of 2017, in exchange for a lump sum payment of $150m. Both sides confirmed the settlement with SoundExchange, stating that the funds paid will be distributed to the rights owners and artists whose sound recordings were used during the settlement period. The agreement brings to an end almost five years of legal dispute centering on SoundExchange’s allegations that SiriusXM made incorrect deductions and exemptions when calculating its royalty payments. SiriusXM was also accused of failing to pay the correct fees due for a number of late payments within the same period. SoundExchange said the satellite radio service did not include in its gross revenue any performances of pre-1972 recordings, so reducing the gross revenue figure the royalty payments were based on.
ICMP accuses SGAE of operating a television broadcast distribution scam
Troubled Spanish authors’ society SGAE has been on the receiving end of fresh criticism from global music publishers’ association ICMP over an alleged inappropriate and unbalanced television broadcast distribution scam. Last year, SGAE’s offices were raided by local police that were investigating claims made by some of the authors’ society’s members who claimed that SGAE was complicit in the scam. ICMP complained that although SGAE was reprimanded by a WIPO arbitration panel, the international publishing community, and the international community of collective management organizations, the society has continued to manipulate television revenue. SGAE has denied ICMP’s accusations. Although the authors’ society acknowledged that some of its members had engaged in fraudulent conduct, SGAE said it was not party to its members’ wrongdoings.
Italy country report
In addition to the usual set of music industry statistics and news briefs, the latest issue of Music & Copyright includes a detailed Italy music industry report. Italy’s recorded-music sector has experienced an erratic few years. Despite the ongoing digital transition, overall performance has been most affected by sales of physical formats. A surprising jump in CD album sales a few years ago added almost as much revenue as streaming. The last couple of years, however, has seen physical sales fall and digital gains struggle to offset the decline. Moreover, the streaming boom came to an abrupt halt last year. UMG is the clear leader in market share terms, ahead of second-placed SME. Royalty collections have been positive with three years of growth following two years of decline. Italy’s live music sector has undergone a number of strategic changes of late, most notably with the launch of Ticketmaster Italia. Italian regulators have increased their attention on the secondary ticketing sector. Moreover, the government has introduced new regulations aimed at tackling the use of automated purchasing.
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