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The music industry is global, and around the world, organizations and communities are uniting to ensure musicians, performers, and composers get the royalties due them by law. Transparency and trust are replacing former cronyism and backroom tactics to turn intellectual property into a vibrant economic and creative powerhouse.

IPOA (the Intellectual Property Owners’ Association; ipoa.ge) is the latest CMO to take this approach. It represents the artists of Georgia, a young democracy on the edge of Europe and Asia with millennia of rich cultural heritage. Chosen and created by Georgian artists and accredited by the National Intellectual Property Center SAKPATENTI to take over royalty collection and distribution, the new organization is committed to a better way of doing business, making sure its members can access their money accurately, quickly, and transparently. 

“Georgian artists wanted to reap the benefits of European approaches to accountability and transparency, combined with American expertise in rights management, all while maintaining their unique artistic spirit and vision,” explains Stefan Schulz, veteran label and music innovation executive and head of international relations for IPOA. “The world needs to know more about Georgia’s distinctive, breathtaking music, and its artists deserve to be rewarded for their contributions.”

Since regaining its independence in the 1990s during the collapse of the Soviet Union, Georgia has worked hard to bring its intellectual property rights regime into harmony with the world’s, using modern best practices. The country’s legislature passed the appropriate laws, and over the next several decades, rights enforcement and royalty collection began for Georgian composers and artists.

However, it soon became clear more work was needed. Georgia’s music community became painfully aware that the CMO that had been established was not operating effectively. They banded together to propose a new organization, IPOA, one that now embraces 99% of Georgia’s musical talent. IPOA won an open competition sponsored by the Georgian government and was granted the right to collect on behalf of music rightsholders. 

IPOA works differently from its predecessor, with guardrails in place to keep costs low and efficiency high. “Our expenses are capped by law,” explains Giorgi Nikolaishvilli, IPOA’s General Director, “and our commitment to service is high, in part because we are artist-founded.” It also has the advantage of building tech and systems that suit the current music business, one that’s complex, digital, and global. 

The organization leverages a single, integrated technology solution to ensure efficient and transparent rights management.  IPOA’s end-to-end platform encompasses music monitoring, recognition, tracking, rights management, and accounting – eliminating the need for multiple vendors and streamlining the entire process. Artists can access detailed reports on their royalties through private accounts on the IPOA website. Additionally, businesses playing licensed music (hotels, restaurants, cafes, and other public places) can verify that fees are properly credited to Georgian artists, fostering trust and motivation within the entire ecosystem.

IPOA proves that a new kind of CMO can thrive--and contribute to the flourishing of a nation’s musical arts. "It turned out that we can live in a different way and have more time for our art, by establishing a better business foundation for artists here,” explains respected composer and music professor Kakha Tsabadze. “Now that this foundation is built, Georgian artists are discovering they can finance their own ideas with the proceeds of their creativity. It’s truly inspiring."

16 Sep 2024 | Press release

Dirty Hit extends successful distribution partnership with Universal Music UK

Independent record label Dirty Hit have announced the renewal of their UK physical distribution partnership with Universal Music UK for a further three years.  Over a decade in length already, their collaborative partnership started in 2010. It has played an important...more

13 Sep 2024 | Press release

Too Young Ltd. announces Catalog, a first-of-its-kind sync marketplace set to revolutionise music licensing

Collaboration with 20 leading independent labels, including !K7, Beggars Group, City Slang, DFA, Erased Tapes, Hyperdub, Kompakt, Marathon, Ninja Tune and Partisan Records kicks off at AIM Connected 2024   Too Young Ltd., a globally recognised leader in music supervision and audio...more

13 Sep 2024 | Press release

Downtown Music Publishing signs global deal with PDU, the imprint from legendary Italian singer, Mina

Deal to include multiple Italian classic hits from Mina’s prestigious music catalog and 1998 best-selling album ‘Mina Celentano'   Downtown Music Publishing (DMP) today announces a global music publishing deal with PDU, the record label and publishing company from iconic Italian singer...more

13 Sep 2024 | Press release

Wise Music Group signs pop publishing deal with Josepehine Stephenson

Campbell Connelly, part of Wise Music Group, has signed an exclusive songwriter agreement with Josephine Stephenson. The deal further cements Stephenson’s relationship with WMG as her concert repertoire is published by Leduc through our offices in Paris. Josephine is a...more

12 Sep 2024 | Press release

Independent Venue Community

INDEPENDENT VENUE COMMUNITY (IVC) NEW CHARITY AIMS TO UNLOCK THE DAYTIME POTENTIAL OF LIVE MUSIC VENUES & BUILD COMMUNITY COHESIVENESS    From the Founder of Independent Venue Week, IVC will develop and champion a national programme of activities and events for communities to...more

12 Sep 2024 | Press release

Concord Music Publishing signs rising country artist Erin Kirby

  Today, Concord Music Publishing announced the signing of Nashville-based breakthrough country artist Erin Kirby. The worldwide publishing deal, effective immediately, includes Kirby’s full catalog and all future works. This marks Kirby’s first publishing deal. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Erin Kirby began writing her own songs...more

12 Sep 2024 | Press release

National Album Day exclusive LP releases

Full list of National Album Day titles  Available for pre-order on 12th September All Saints - All Saints Babyshambles - Shotter’s Nation Daughter - Music From Before the Storm Dodgy - Homegrown Embrace - Out Of Nothing Gomez - How We Operate Idlewild - Warnings/Promises Jeff Wayne - Jeff Wayne's Musical Version Of The War Of The Worlds: ULLAdubULLA...more

12 Sep 2024 | Press release

Warner Chappell Music UK and Defected Records announce new joint venture

Warner Chappell Music UK (WCM UK), the music publishing arm of Warner Music Group, has teamed up with award-winning British dance label Defected Records to launch an exciting new joint venture. WCM UK will now exclusively administer the publishing roster...more

12 Sep 2024 | Press release

BPI launches Episode 3 of Innovation Podcast series

Episode 3: The Get-Heard Generation: how brand partnerships went from selling out to buying in click here to listen to this and past episodes   Building on its various innovation-led initiatives of the past 12 months, including its groundbreaking Grow Music partnership with London & Partners announced in July, the...more

12 Sep 2024 | Press release

International Music Summit announces the debut of IMS Dubai

A NEW SUMMIT FOCUSING ON THE INTERSECTION OF MUSIC, CULTURE, FINANCE & TECHNOLOGYFEATURING MENA-BASED SPEAKERS FROM YOUTUBE, WARNER MUSIC GROUP, ANGHAMI, BILLBOARD ARABIA, BELIEVE, FIVE HOSPITALITY, POP ARABIA, REED SMITH,  SCENENOISE & THE PACHA GROUP.BUYERS & REGIONAL EVENT EXPERTS FROM SOHO GARDEN, GROOVE ON THE GRASS, OASIS FESTIVAL & FACTORY...more

12 Sep 2024 | Press release

beatBread names TikTok & Amazon executive as Head of Finance

beatBread (www.beatBread.com), the data-driven funding platform for music that enables artists and labels to access growth capital while maintaining ownership and control, has appointed Andrew Maddox as head of finance, as the company continues to scale and build out new...more

12 Sep 2024 | Press release

The Scottish Album of the Year Award announces 2024's longlist

20 OUTSTANDING ALBUMS – INCLUDING DEBUTS FROM ACROSS SCOTLAND, MERCURY PRIZE NOMINEES AND FORMER WINNERS – NOW IN THE RUNNING FOR £20,000 PRIZE  Stream the Longlist at www.sayaward.com   Scotland’s national music prize, The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award, today reveals the 20 outstanding...more

12 Sep 2024 | Press release

Music maestro PBN receives honorary 'Doctorate of Music'

The University of Wolverhampton has recognised the achievements and successes of South Asian music maestro, PBN. The world renowned music producer, singer and performer becomes the first ever UK Punjabi act to have been made a 'Doctor of Music'. PBN is a household...more

12 Sep 2024 | Press release

Warner Chappell Music France signs deal with Renaud

WCM France has signed a deal with legendary French rocker Renaud. It acquired the worldwide publishing rights to the catalog of the Couci Couca record label, which includes Renaud’s latest works, such as the Diamond Certified Renaud, Toujours Debout, and the...more

12 Sep 2024 | Press release

L-Acoustics Introduces HYRISS: One Space, Endless Experiences

Revolutionary Hyperreal Immersive Sound System brings sound to the centre of spaces designed for living and gathering L-Acoustics today unveils HYRISS (Hyperreal Immersive Sound Space), a groundbreaking audio solution set to redefine how we experience spaces through sound. HYRISS represents a...more

12 Sep 2024 | Press release

ESMAA and Anghami settle legal dispute and announce a licensing agreement

ESMAA, an Abu Dhabi-based rights management entity representing global music stakeholders in the Gulf and Middle East, and Anghami (NASDAQ: ANGH), the leading music and entertainment streaming platform in the Middle East and North Africa region, have announced a new...more

12 Sep 2024 | Press release

Arodes teams with Armada Music on label, reveals first track 'Use Somebody'

Armada Music, the world's leading independent dance music label, is thrilled to announce a long-term partnership with DJ and producer Arodes, marking the next phase for his newly-founded label, Unreleased. This exciting collaboration kicks off with the release of Arodes'...more

12 Sep 2024 | Press release

Universal Music Sweden launches Def Jam Recordings Sweden under the leadership of Mattias Caliste

Launch coincides with iconic label, Def Jam Recordings' 40th anniversary, boasting a roster that includes both new and established artists Universal Music Sweden, a division of Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, today announced the launch of...more

11 Sep 2024 | Press release

Audoo announces appointment of senior music executives Steve Clark, Isabel Garvey and Sean O'Malley as board advisors

  The appointments follow news of partnerships with PMY Group and IMRO. The execs add to existing Audoo Board Advisors Cliff Fluet and Alistair Macdonald. Global expansion continues, with Audoo Audio Meters™ active in 15 countries having processed over 75 million songs. Audoo—the music...more

11 Sep 2024 | Press release

Warner Chappell Music strengthens A&R presence in Europe

  Warner Chappell Music (WCM), the music publishing arm of Warner Music Group, has announced several exciting changes in its European A&R team, with two promotions in its Nordics division, and a significant new appointment in Germany.  In the Nordics, Marion Skogseth...more

10 Sep 2024 | Press release

IMPF appoints Nicole Schulze to new Secretary General role

Schulze was most recently IP Policy Lead for Europe at Meta. New Secretary General role ‘a response to huge growth’ at IMPF.   A public policy professional with nearly 20 years’ experience in developing advocacy strategies and influencing legislative agendas, with a focus...more

10 Sep 2024 | Press release

Impala pushes ahead with strategic Central and Eastern European work

Impala pushes ahead with strategic Central and Eastern European work and sets out new priorities at its annual meeting in Bucharest hosted by Indiero, Mastering the Music Business conference Last Thursday at Mastering the Music Business international music business conference and showcase festival...more

10 Sep 2024 | Press release

IFPI Releases Inaugural Music In The EU Report

New report highlights that the European market is at a pivotal moment Policymakers have chance to bolster European music’s future amidst rising global competition  Download the full report here   IFPI, the organisation representing record companies worldwide, has today released Music in the EU: A Global...more

10 Sep 2024 | Press release

Universal Music Group expands partnership with Tuned Global in new licensing agreement

  Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment and Tuned Global, the leading B2B music and streaming technology provider, today announced a global licensing agreement for UMG’s catalogue of recorded music. This expansion of their existing partnership will...more

10 Sep 2024 | Press release

First wave of speakers for ESNS Conference announced

  Sumit Bothra (SB3 Artist Management), Seth Dodson (Pitchfork), Jess Iszatt (BBC), Katie Melua (artist), and Victoria Oakley (IFPI) are the first featured speakers announced for ESNS25. Other confirmed speakers include tastemakers from Dekmantel, EMMA, Wasserman Music, and many more. Delegate...more

10 Sep 2024 | Press release

New Artist Accelerator platform MXTR launches

New Artist Accelerator platform MXTR launches, committed to championing and funding emerging artists with a sustainable ecosystem that puts creative control and ownership first.•    MXTR will offer artists funding, majority share deals, master ownership and full creative control.•    MXTR is powered by...more

10 Sep 2024 | Press release

Audiomack partners with Mogul to get artists what they're owed

  Audiomack, the leading music streaming service in 17 African countries with artists across the globe, is partnering with Mogul, the industry’s most effective top layer for tracking royalties. More than 30 million monthly users across the globe can now track...more

10 Sep 2024 | Press release

Amuse Introduces New Sync Department to Develop Licensed Music

Headed by Daniel Copleston, previously at [PIAS] and Cooking Vinyl Records. Sync placements can be career-makers for artists—opening an avenue for new fans to discover their music, offering new revenue streams, and creating a launchpad for future releases. Adding in-house Sync...more

09 Sep 2024 | Press release

MMF Manager Summit & AGM 2024: DATA, DEALS & INNOVATION

Tickets available here - 50% discount for MMF members and MMF Associates   On Tuesday 17th September (11am - 4.30pm), the Music Managers Forum (MMF) will host a full day Manager Summit at London's 21Soho.  Through a series of expert panel discussions and...more

09 Sep 2024 | Press release

Call for proposals for New Music Biennial 2025

  Festival weekends to take place in Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and at London's Southbank Centre Organisations can apply to work with exciting music creators to commission a new work or present exceptional works from the last 4 years PRS...more

16 Sep 2024

  • Spotify says it paid 1% of a $10m streaming fraud scheme’s royalties — so where did the other 99% come from? (see Digital)

13 Sep 2024

  • Spotify looks to pay video creators to put shows on platform; launches interview series (see Digital)

12 Sep 2024

  • Can Labour revitalise the UK’s creative industries? (see Comment)

11 Sep 2024

  • IFPI releases inaugural Music In The EU report (see Reports)

  • WME's Lucy Dickins interviewed (see Features)

10 Sep 2024

  • SoundCloud CEO Eliah Seton interviewed (see Features)

09 Sep 2024

  • Industry presses government to solve post-Brexit limits on touring (see News)

  • Revealed: the touts offering Oasis tickets (see Features)

06 Sep 2024

  • English Teacher win Mercury prize (see News, Features)

05 Sep 2024

  • Oasis attempts to distance itself from dynamic pricing after backlash (see News, Comment)

04 Sep 2024

  • EU rules out loosening post-Brexit curbs on UK touring musicians (see News)

  • What we can learn from the success of the UK's high-performing indie labels (see Comment)

30 Nov 1999