21 January 2007 
MPA unveils new Pan-European digital licensing solution
The Music Publishers Association [MPA] has today unveiled a one-stop Pan-European digital licensing solution for music publishers. From today, publishing companies will be able to sign up to an agreement forged on their behalf by the MPA with the leading European collecting society, the MCPS-PRS Alliance [the Alliance]. This will enable their repertoire to be licensed collectively by the Alliance to all online and mobile music services throughout Europe.
This pioneering move follows the European Commission’s recommendation that rights holders should be free to choose how to license their online and mobile rights throughout Europe. Together with the Alliance, the MPA has created a template agreement to which all music publishers can sign up. The initiative will simplify the process of licensing across Europe for both music publishers and music users and save music publishers time and money.
The new licence will be particularly attractive to independent music publishers, who together represent 30% of the UK music publishing market.
MPA Chairman, Paul Curran, commented: “Trade associations need to adapt their practices and services if they are to stay relevant and useful to their members in the 21st Century. This is a great example of the changing role of the MPA as it responds to the challenges of the digital age. We are delivering, and will continue to deliver through our ongoing involvement in the initiative, a very practical service on behalf of our members, which will simplify the online and mobile licensing process for music publishers and music users.”
Simon Platz, Managing Director of Bucks Music Group Ltd, added: “The MPA is taking a proactive step to address the needs of independent publishers, providing us with a ready-made solution for licensing our online and mobile rights across Europe.” Steve Porter, Managing Director of the MCPS-PRS Alliance, said: “We’re delighted the MPA is recommending the MCPS-PRS Alliance as the online and mobile rights manager of choice for music publishers. The contract we have developed together supports our aim to improve services for members and music users and supports the European Commission’s plans for simplified online licensing across Europe.”
Ends
For further details, please contact:
Felix Taylor at the MPA - Tel: 020 7637 4058; Mobile: 07876 504044; Email: ftaylor@mpaonline.org.uk or
Adrian Crookes at the MCPS-PRS Alliance -Tel: 020 7306 4230; Mobile: 07918 194151;
Email: adrian.crookes@mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk
The Music Publishers Association exists to safeguard the interests of music publishers and the writers signed to them. It provides them with a forum and a collective voice, offers them a range of practical services, represents their interests to the wider music industry, the media and the public and works to inform and to educate the wider public in the importance and value of copyright. www.mpaonline.org.uk
The MCPS-PRS Alliance. MCPS and PRS are not-for-profit collecting societies working to ensure that composers, songwriters and music publishers are paid royalties when their music is broadcast on TV or radio, performed live, downloaded or streamed on the internet or via mobile, recorded onto CD, DVD, computer games, ringtones
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
A: 6th Floor British Music House, 26 Berners Street, London W1T 3LR
T: 020 7637 4025 F: 020 7637 3929
E: info@mpaonline.org.uk W: www.mpaonline.org.uk