Sony/ATV, PRS and GEMA launch one-stop European licensing shop

Sony/ATV, UK collection society PRS for Music and German society GEMA have partnered to administer licences for Sony/ATV and EMI’s pan-European digital rights for Anglo-American repertoire (where the music creator is affiliated with societies like ASCAP and BMI).

The agreement, titled SOLAR, will administer a single new licence to cover the exploitation of the combined Anglo-American catalogues of Sony/ATV and EMI Music Publishing. SOLAR’s launch follows the 2012 acquisition of EMI Music Publishing led by Sony Corporation of America and ensures licensees have easy access to both repertoires.

The agreement builds on joint venture licensing deals like CELAS, which attends to the Pan-European licensing of the Anglo-American mechanical repertoire of EMI Music Publishing in the field of online and mobile services, and GEMA subsidiary PAECOL, which attends to the Pan-European licensing of the Anglo-American mechanical repertoire of SONY/ATV Music Publishing in the field of online and mobile services. Both digital licensing agreements allow music services to license rights throughout Europe rather than having to make arrangements on a territory-by-territory basis. SOLAR will make this process more efficient for licensees.

Martin Bandier, Chairman and CEO, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, said: “This agreement not only builds on our already successful relationships with PRS for Music and GEMA, but makes the licensing process in Europe more straight-forward as services will now have only one place to go for both Sony/ATV and EMI Music Publishing repertoire. It is also great news for our songwriters as we look to continue to facilitate licensing in this rapidly-evolving and expanding sector.”

PRS for Music Chief Executive Robert Ashcroft said: “This agreement is a vote of confidence for the Hubs strategy and consolidation activities that we and GEMA are close to launching with our partner STIM. SOLAR will ensure licensees have easier access to this exceptional combined repertoire.”