Radio stations in the Dutch Caribbean islands will now have to pay royalty fees for playing music for the first time, which will be collected by SOCAN and newly launched local PRO Ducapro.
Under a services deal, Canadian PRO SOCAN will deliver back-office royalty administration services across the Caribbean island countries of Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, and St. Maarten.
Ducapro will provide comprehensive performance right administration services for local and international music.
SOCAN’s services include including matching reported information from music used on licensed radio stations to the payment to rights-holders who have earned royalties.
“Our agreement with Ducapro is a rare opportunity to witness the start of a new performing rights organization in the Western Hemisphere, let alone being the services company that empowers it.”
eric baptiste, socan
“Our agreement with Ducapro is a rare opportunity to witness the start of a new performing rights organization in the Western Hemisphere, let alone being the services company that empowers it,” said SOCAN CEO Eric Baptiste (pictured).
“This speaks to SOCAN’s mission to lead the global transformation of music rights and, ultimately, bring even more value to our own members and stakeholders.”
Ducapro legal counsel David Kock said: “SOCAN has the expertise to support paying international and local creators through tools and processes to make this happen.
“In collaboration with SOCAN, local music creators will have worldwide support in the collection and distribution of royalties, especially through digital media.”
Ducapro also has backing from the Aruba Musician & Artist Association (AMAA), along with other local and regional artist associations and government entities.
DK Legal, a Dutch Caribbean law firm, will collect local license fees on behalf of Ducapro and enforce the rights of local and international music rights holders.
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