Music and money do not always have a cause and effect relationship, but the reality is that the use of music often carries a cost, especially if that use makes someone money or contributes in some way to that benefit.
Since a song, for example, can be played in many different scenarios and situations, the problem arises of knowing who used it, how and where it was used, how much money should be paid for using it and how that money will reach the owners of the rights derived from each particular case. It is in this context that the existence of music collecting entities finds its function and its meaning.
What are music collection entities?
Music collecting societies are organisations responsible for managing copyright and related rights in music. Their main task is to ensure that composers, songwriters, performers, producers and other rights holders receive fair financial compensation when their works are used commercially.
Types of rights and how they are managed
Copyright: They include the musical composition and the lyrics. They are managed by collective management entities such as ASCAP, BMI or SGAE, depending on the country.
Related or Neighboring Rights: These correspond to performing artists and producers of phonograms. They are managed through organizations such as SoundExchange in the USA or AIE in Spain.
How do these entities work?
These organizations act as intermediaries between those who use the music (radios, television, retail stores, streaming services, etc.) and those who create it. Here is the general process:
Discharge: The entities offer licenses to music users that allow them to use the entire repertoire they manage in exchange for a fee.
Collection: They charge licensing fees to music users and typically collect them into a common fund.
Distribution: They divide and distribute the income among the rights holders according to the works that have been used and the frequency of use.
Key Features:
Collection of Rights: They are responsible for collecting fees for the use of copyrighted music. This can include mechanical reproduction (such as on CDs or digital downloads), public performance (such as music in commercial venues or radio broadcasts) and digital reproduction (such as on streaming services).
License Management: They grant licenses that authorize the use of music in exchange for payment. These licenses can be of various types, depending on the use that will be given to the music, and can be individual per work or general, the latter covering the entire repertoire managed by the entity.
Protection of Rights: They act to defend the rights of copyright holders against unauthorized uses. This may include legal action against copyright infringement.
Income Distribution: After collecting fees, the entities deduct their operating costs and distribute the remaining revenues among the rights holders according to a distribution system that, although it varies among entities, is usually based on the frequency and type of use of each musical work.
What role do they play for music creators and users?
In two sentences. For creators, they ensure that their rights are respected and they are adequately compensated. For users, they simplify the process of legalizing the use of music by allowing them to access a vast catalog through a single license.
How do artists and the industry benefit?
For music creators, These entities are essential because they ensure that they are compensated when their works are used. Without them, it would be nearly impossible for an individual artist to track every use of their music and get paid individually.
For music consumers and businesses, They provide a simple and legal way to access music from around the world for a single fee, which saves them from having to negotiate directly with each rights holder, a process that would be enormously complex and expensive.
Importance of tracking and technology
But the world is not exactly a small place. How do you know where and when a piece of music is being heard publicly? Authorities use advanced technologies to monitor where and how music is being used to ensure fair and accurate distribution of royalties. This includes digital tracking tools, music recognition software, and databases of copyrighted works. In an increasingly digital world, the role of copyright collectors has expanded, and to adapt to the internet age, these new technological tools are trying to reach wherever music is consumed in any form and across any platform. In addition, these authorities must adapt to the constantly changing ways music is consumed and the need to update legislation to protect rights in the digital environment. However, these circumstances also present opportunities to improve efficiency and accuracy in the collection and distribution of royalties, and to develop licensing models that adapt to new ways music is used. It is important for music users to understand copyright laws and comply with licensing obligations, as non-compliance can lead to legal consequences and financial penalties.
Conclusions
Although I suppose that any business or company would prefer not to pay anything for using artists' works, and music creators do not like this business, legal and bureaucratic aspect either, music collecting societies play a vital role in the music industry, trying to balance the interests of creators and users. The existence of these entities is crucial to maintaining the musical ecosystem. They ensure that creators can continue to produce new music by receiving fair compensation for their work, while allowing the music industry to develop in a sustainable way. Perhaps this whole issue of rights, duties and money could be organized in another way, but, whether we like it or not, this is the system we have and we must know it in order to, perhaps, achieve some justice in the distribution of profits derived from the commercial exploitation of music. Let us write songs, let us sing and, if possible, let us receive a decent compensation for our contribution to the culture and health of this planet of ours, so often absurd, violent and ridiculous. #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_form { } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_column_with_background { padding: 10px; } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_form_column:not(:first-child) { margin-left: 20px; } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_paragraph { line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_segment_label, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_text_label, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_textarea_label, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_select_label, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_radio_label, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_checkbox_label, 3 .mailpoet_list_label, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_date_label { display: block; font-weight: normal; } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_text, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_textarea, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_select, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_date_month, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_date_day, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_date_year, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_date { display :block; } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_text, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_textarea { width: 200px; } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_checkbox { } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_submit { } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_divider { } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_message { } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_form_loading { width: 30px; text-align: center; line-height: normal; } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_form_loading > span { width: 5px; height: 5px; background-color: #5b5b5b; }#mailpoet_form_3{border: 1px solid #fcb900;border-radius: 40px;text-align: center;}#mailpoet_form_3 form.mailpoet_form {padding: 20px;}#mailpoet_form_3{width: 70%;}#mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_message {margin: 0; padding: 0 20px;}#mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_paragraph.last {margin-bottom: 0} @media (max-width: 500px) {#mailpoet_form_3 {background-image: none;}} @media (min-width: 500px) {#mailpoet_form_3 .last .mailpoet_paragraph:last-child {margin-bottom: 0}} @media (max-width: 500px) {#mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_form_column:last-child .mailpoet_paragraph:last-child {margin-bottom: 0}} Please leave this field emptyDo you write songs or would you like to?
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