Spanish authors and publishers collecting society SGAE has signed an accord with Warner/Chappell Music to distribute its English-language catalog via continental Europe on Internet and mobile suppliers. Warner/Chappell Music has issued SGAE with the appropriate Pan European Digital Licence (PEDL).
The PEDL concedes non-exclusive rights over the Warner/Chappell Music catalog to collecting societies that adhere to regulations designed to develop an efficient and transparent administration of author’s rights together with an appropriate and precise compensation for the author, SGAE said.
The first societies to sign the PEDL initiative were the MCPS-PRS Alliance, GEMA and STIM in January, followed by France’s Sacem in June.
“We are delighted to have SGAE as part of the PEDL initiative,” said Warner/Chappell international legal affairs VP Jane Dyball in a statement. “Today’s announcement is one more step towards simplifying and improving the pan-European digital licensing process for WCM’s catalogue, whilst maintaining royalty rates and developing emerging revenue streams for songwriters.”
SGAE executive president Edaurdo Bautista added, “With this accord, SGAE strengthens its position as a pan-European operator. The accord will allow us to offer optimum services to rights holders”.
