BMG has extended its long-term deal with German collection society GEMA to license digital services to an additional 48 territories.
It already licenses Anglo-American repertoire to digital services through GEMA subsidiary ARESA in 38 European countries.
To these it now adds 48 territories, including Russia, Turkey, the Middle East and Africa.
BMG has also committed to extend its relationship with GEMA to license through ARESA, which first started in 2012, until 2021.
The ARESA structure is designed to optimize payments to BMG writers as well as simplifying licensing for music users.
ARESA licensees include Apple, Spotify, Amazon, Deezer, YouTube and Facebook.
ICE, a joint venture by GEMA, PRS and STIM takes over the processing of the usage notifications and the work documentation in the joint ICE database – the most authoritative work database of its kind in the world.
BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch (pictured inset) said: “Ensuring songwriters get the money they deserve in the streaming age is a simple concept but an incredibly complicated process.
We are delighted to extend our relationship with GEMA through ARESA to make sure BMG’s writers continue to receive a world-class service. Under our previous deal BMG already reached a potential 531 million music fans through ARESA, but this new extension of our relationship takes that to more than 1.8 billion.”
“Ensuring songwriters get the money they deserve in the streaming age is a simple concept but an incredibly complicated process.”
Hartwig Masuch, BMG
Dr. Harald Heker, GEMA CEO added: “For six years, GEMA has, together with BMG, been facilitating a transparent and efficient licensing process for Anglo-American music all over Europe.
I am pleased that we continue this successful cooperation and now also expand it far beyond Europe’s borders. We have a strong partner in BMG in order to meet the challenges of digital music licensing and to develop up-to-date licensing models.”
BMG General Counsel Ama Walton, said: “Licensing digital services with GEMA through ARESA benefits our writers in terms of speed, efficiency and transparency. It also makes life easier for music users by providing a one-stop-shop for the mechanical rights of our Anglo-American writers.”
Dr. Kaspar Kunisch, MD, ARESA, said: “Digital music exploitation and the diversification of digital music services are fast-paced.
“In order to allow composers and lyricists to participate in the financial remuneration from the streaming and download sectors in the best possible way, we need flexible and innovative solutions. We are excited to support BMG to reach this objective together with our partner ICE.”Music Business Worldwide
