PRO Agency has entered into an agreement to handle neighboring rights for highly-regarded US independent record label Merge Records.
The label has released music by the likes of Arcade Fire, Caribou, The Magnetic Fields and Neutral Milk Hotel.
Merge was founded in 1989 by Superchunk members Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance (pictured) to release their own music and the tapes of friends’ bands.
Neighboring Rights Agency PRO Agency was founded in 2012 by the Wuppertal, Germany-based distributor Cargo Records.
PRO now independently administers neighboring rights for record companies, performing artists, actors and creative producers for 61 collecting societies worldwide.
On the label and distribution side, PRO’s partners include Kompakt, Secretly Canadian, Secretly Group, Broken Silence, Berliner Philharmoniker, Symphonic Distribution, Majestic Casual, Boysnoize Records and on the performing artists side, artists such as Parcels, Alva Noto, Volbeat, Wolfgang Voigt, Jonathan Bree, Zeal & Ardor, Sophie Hunger and many more.
“We are pleased to have found in PRO Agency an independent partner who combines the professional management of these rights with a passion for music”.
Nick Cain, Merge Records
Merge Records’ Nick Cain said: “The full exercise of neighboring rights is an increasingly important revenue stream for labels and artists.
“We are pleased to have found in PRO Agency an independent partner who combines the professional management of these rights with a passion for music”.
“As a personal fan of the label, I am especially pleased that we will be handling the Neighboring Rights for Merge Records in the future.”
Alexander Warnke, PRO Agency
PRO Agency’s Alexander Warnke added: “As a personal fan of the label, I am especially pleased that we will be handling the Neighboring Rights for Merge Records in the future.
“Every signing is still chosen by the owners Ballance and McCaughan themselves. This authenticity, which has created a strong bond between label and fans for 31 years, is really impressive.“
Music Business Worldwide
