11th April 2007
For immediate release
CELAS moves a step closer to full operations
The MCPS-PRS Alliance has appointed John Rathbone as joint Managing Director of CELAS – the European joint licensing operation from the Alliance and GEMA - to work alongside Alexander Wolf, the joint managing director from GEMA.
The appointment means that CELAS is now fully staffed and ready to begin licensing and administering EMI Music Publishing’s Anglo-American songs for online and mobile usage across Europe.
Negotiations with the major digital music companies are now at an advanced stage, both in relation to meeting their licensing needs and in agreeing clear operating arrangements.
MCPS-PRS Alliance MD Steve Porter said, ‘With GEMA, we are continuing to drive real progress in moving CELAS to full operations. Both societies remain fully committed to this critical strategic initiative and we are excited that legitimate pan-European licensing solutions for online and mobile usage are about to become a reality.’
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CONTACTS
The MCPS-PRS Alliance
Adrian Crookes
+44 (0)7918 194151
adrian.crookes@mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk
GEMA
Dr. Hans-Herwig Geyer
+49/89 48 003-420
hgeyer@gema.de
NOTES FOR EDITORS
CELAS. The company set up to exclusively represent EMI Music Publishing’s repertoire for online and mobile exploitation in Europe, jointly owned by two of Europe’s leading music collective rights managers, the MCPS-PRS Alliance and GEMA. CELAS operates on the principles set out by the European Commission in its Recommendation on the future of online licensing in Europe. www.celas.eu
The MCPS-PRS Alliance. MCPS and PRS are the not-for-profit UK collecting societies that ensure composers, songwriters and publishers are paid royalties when their music is used: from live performance to TV and radio, CDs to DVDs, downloads, streams and everything in between. Royalties create a future for music by supporting creators while they continue to write. MCPS and PRS are committed to delivering maximum royalties and world-class service. They work together in an operational alliance to get the best value for the music use of composers and songwriters everywhere. www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk
GEMA
In Germany, GEMA is a non-profit organization that represents the copyrights of more than 60,000 members (composers, lyricists and music publishers) as well as of over 1 million rights owners from all corners of the world. With an income of EUR 852 million (in the financial year 2005), it is one of the largest authors’ societies in the world for works of music and the oldest authors’ and publishers’ society in Germany.
www.gema.de