PMY Group, which provides technology services for events globally, has tapped music recognition technology company Audoo to enhance public performance reporting for music creators, licensees, and businesses at large-scale events.
The partnership involves integrating Audoo’s Audio Meter technology into PMY’s OPTIC platform to set “new reporting and transparency standards for the music industry at major events worldwide,” PMY said Wednesday (May 15).
Audio Meter is a tool designed to gather real-time data on public music performances. This technology seeks to improve precision, transparency, and reporting in real-time, while mitigating any substantial impact on licensees, performance rights organizations, and collective management organizations.
The GDPR-compliant devices, which “don’t compromise on public privacy,” according to PMY, are being deployed across Europe, the Middle East, and Australasia in various public performance locations including cafes, bars, restaurants, gyms, and retail outlets.
“Incorporating Audoo’s innovative technology into our event solutions underscores PMY’s role as a forward-thinking entity in the technology sector.”
Oliver Guy-Watkins, PMY Group
PMY says its partnership with Audoo seeks to address the lack of transparent reporting that has resulted in “billions of dollars annually” in unclaimed music royalties. The alliance aims to ensure artists, rightsholders, and businesses receive proper compensation for music played at large-scale events, PMY said.
PMY serves over 1,000 clients across various sectors in 14 countries. The company offers technology infrastructure and services for public venues and major events. The partnership with Audoo comes as Europe gears up for its summer season, which includes about 400 music festivals along with numerous sporting events and concerts.
“Incorporating Audoo’s innovative technology into our event solutions underscores PMY’s role as a forward-thinking entity in the technology sector, committed to ensuring the music industry’s sustainability and nurturing the next generation of headline acts,” said Oliver Guy-Watkins, General Manager, PMY Live Europe.
Ryan Edwards, Founder and CEO of Audoo, added: “There is a lack of automation over what music is played at huge events like festivals and in massive stadiums, they’re complicated operations with multiple locations that need to be accounted for.
“There is a lack of automation over what music is played at huge events like festivals and in massive stadiums, they’re complicated operations with multiple locations that need to be accounted for.”
Ryan Edwards, Audoo
“We’re delighted to partner with a respected world leader in tech design and management in PMY, to help Audoo deliver a fairer and more transparent music industry for artists worldwide.”
Audoo, established in 2018, joined Abbey Road’s tech start-up incubator Abbey Road Red in 2019. In 2020, it secured GBP £5.2 million (approximately USD $6.6 million) in its series A funding round, followed by an additional £7.2 million in its pre-series B funding round in 2021. Its backers include MPL Ventures, Tileyard London, Steve Sidwell, and Björn Ulvaeus (ABBA/CISAC).
Last October, it raised another $5 million in funding from a group of investors including legendary British musician Sir Elton John and his husband and manager, David Furnish.
The partnership with PMY marks Audoo’s latest after teaming up with ESMAA, an Abu Dhabi-based music rights organization, in November to enhance the management and distribution of public performance royalties in the Middle East.
Also last year, Audoo partnered with UK-based music rights management organizations PRS for Music and PPL to enhance the distribution of music royalties to more than 300,000 artists, composers, writers, music publishers, and recording rightsholders.
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