Pro Music Rights, the privately-funded, US-based performing rights organization (PRO), has inked a deal to represent Billboard-charting recording artist and songwriter OG Maco.
The news comes a month after Pro Music Rights became a strategic partner of VNUE Inc – a deal which the duo say will shake up US performing rights payouts, including those from bars, restaurants and other bricks and mortar establishments.
Together, using VNUE’s VNUE’s Soundstr MRT (Music Recognition Technology), Pro Music Rights and VNUE are aiming to reshape the licensing model from the typical “blanket license” scenario, to a “utility-based,” model, where licensees pay for what they actually play.
VNUE and Pro Music Rights argue that, via this model, 100% of all public performance royalties can be paid directly to performers, songwriters, publishers, and legally-entitled rights holders, without administrative fees being deducted.
Atlanta rapper OG Maco is best known for his 2014 debut single entitled U Guessed It, a viral hit that peaked at No. 90 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Charts.
The artist has collaborated with dozens of fellow acts, including Migos, Diplo, 2 Chainz, Gucci Mane, Waka Flocka Flame, Offset, Fallout Boy, and more.
“I’m overjoyed that OG Maco has chosen to bring his catalog to the Pro Music Rights family,” said Pro Music Rights Founder and CEO Jake P. Noch.
“He is a standout star in our sterling—and rapidly-expanding—roster of some of the world’s greatest musical catalogs.”
“I’m overjoyed that OG Maco has chosen to bring his catalog to the Pro Music Rights family.”
Jake P. Noch, Pro Music Rights
Pro Music Rights is only the fifth-ever organization of its kind formed in the United States, and claims that it controls a market share of 7.4% in the market.
The firm represents over 2,000,000 works, some that feature such notable acts as Snoop Dogg, A$AP Rocky, Wiz Khalifa, Pharrell, Young Jeezy, the late Nipsey Hussle, and many others.
VNUE, Inc. CEO Zach Bair said, “With the addition of OG Maco to Pro Music Rights’ roster, the industry should take note that artists will no longer have to stand idle while their royalties are tied up in an opaque, antiquated system.
“With the addition of OG Maco to Pro Music Rights’ roster, the industry should take note that artists will no longer have to stand idle while their royalties are tied up in an opaque, antiquated system.”
Zach Bair, VNUE Inc
“I am excited to work with Jake and Pro Music Rights, and for VNUE to provide the underlying Soundstr technology and our industry-leading resources in helping to shape this new and innovative model; a model which we believe will be the future of general music licensing.”
Pro Music Rights says it is actively contacting major DSPs such as Apple, Google, Amazon, Spotify, and more, to reach licensing agreements for Pro Music Rights catalog music played on each service. All license agreements will require VNUE’s Soundstr monitoring and auditing.
[Pictured: OG Maco in the video for 2014’s U Guessed It]Music Business Worldwide
