Tag: licensing

BMG and Spotify Sign New US Direct Licensing Agreement

Spotify and BMG have entered into a direct, multiyear US publishing licensing agreement designed to deliver greater value to songwriters and their teams. 

This agreement reflects BMG and Spotify’s shared interest in building a direct relationship that ensures songwriters share more directly in the value created by their work. It’s a practical step toward a more flexible licensing model that better serves both publishers and their artists, ensuring BMG songwriters benefit more directly in the growth of streaming. 

“At Spotify, we believe the future of music depends on stronger collaboration across the industry,” said Alex Norström, Co-President and Chief Business Officer, Spotify. “Our partnership with BMG advances that vision with renewed support for songwriters through a licensing model that will enhance how music is enjoyed on our platform.” 

The deal serves as the latest step following BMG’s announcement in late 2023 that it was taking direct control of its digital business, enabling the company to manage its own relationships with streaming platforms to leverage data, improve artist services, and streamline operations for its substantial music catalog.

“Working directly with Spotify helps us reinforce our mission to ensure songwriters are fairly represented and rewarded for their work,” said Thomas Coesfeld, CEO of BMG. “We’re pleased to agree on a progressive licensing model that reflects the real-world use of music across digital platforms and are excited to take our partnership to the next level as we continue to redefine what a modern music company can be.

“We applaud Spotify’s momentum and support their position on developing new AI protections,” he continued. “While we support the use of AI to enhance human creativity, these policies align with BMG’s philosophy and will help ensure that fair remuneration and protection of artists’ works remain nonnegotiable.”

Kobalt and Spotify Strike New Direct Licensing Agreement

Spotify and Kobalt, the world’s largest independent music publisher, have entered into a direct, multiyear licensing agreement designed to deliver greater flexibility, efficiency, value, and protections to songwriters in the U.S.

This deal reflects the collaborative efforts between Kobalt and Spotify in building a licensing framework to enable new formats, innovations, and potential to connect creators and fans alike. The deal also reflects a broader shift toward licensing structures that allow songwriters to participate more directly in the value their work creates on streaming platforms.

“We’ve always believed that better partnerships lead to better outcomes,” said Alex Norström, Co-President & Chief Business Officer, Spotify. “This agreement with Kobalt boosts our support of songwriters through a licensing model that unlocks new growth and will expand the way music is made and shared today.” 

Laurent Hubert, CEO of Kobalt said, “As the largest independent music publisher dedicated to fighting for the rights of songwriters, this deal reaffirms our unwavering commitment to ensuring our songwriters are paid fairly for their work, and underscores the importance of progressive licensing models that reflect the real-world use of music across digital platforms. This partnership is a step in the right direction, and we look forward to continuing to work with Spotify to increase the value of songwriter royalties.”

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