JAMMS Joins UK-Based Phonographic Performance Limited To Collect Jamaica’s Global Royalties
Jamaican musicians, producers and artists have scored another victory, as the Jamaica Music Society (JAMMS) and UK-based Performance Rights Organization Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL), have forged closer ties, in a bid to “widen the footprint of global royalty collections, where their recorded music is played internationally”.
According to a statement from the PPL, the new partnership will see the organization collecting international revenues for JAMMS’ members across all the major music markets, as well as in far-flung areas such as Australia, South Korea, South Africa and India.
“Although JAMMS has direct agreements with counterparts in some countries, the addition of PPL’s network of more than 100 international agreements with other PROs will support the further growth of JAMMS’ international collections on behalf of more than 1,400 established producers and performers,” the PPL noted.
.@PPLUK and @JAMMS4music are happy to announce a closer collaboration that widens the footprint of global royalty collections for Jamaican producers and performers when their recorded music is played internationally. Read more here: https://t.co/jMRs6N1VEB pic.twitter.com/sb24rUy0eU
— PPL (@PPLUK) February 22, 2021
“Both JAMMS and PPL collect revenues for the use of recorded music on radio, television as well as in public places, such as restaurants, clubs, bars, retail stores, hotels, and other venues. Each organization does this in their own country, as well as overseas, through a network of international agreements,” it added.
JAMMS has in the past brokered reciprocal agreements with foreign collecting societies in various territories, including Holland, Germany and France.
The PPL said already under the partnership, money has begun to be repatriated from around the world to the Jamaican music industry.
“The expanded partnership took effect in 2020 and dozens of JAMMS members have already been benefiting. The expertise of the JAMMS team in regard to local repertoire helps to fuel the effectiveness of the partnership through international royalty claims which are driven by accurate repertoire information,” it said.
JAMMS General Manager Evon Mullings, is quoted in the release as hailing the partnership which he said will be to the benefits of its members.
“Our objective is simple, to give our members the best chance of increasing their royalty earnings. This expanded arrangement gives us the global footprint we need to deliver more royalties to more of our members,” Mullings stated.
The release said JAMMS and PPL have been working together since 2010, when both parties entered into a bilateral agreement for producers which, at the time allowed each organisation to ensure that their respective producer members were being paid for the use of their recorded music in both Jamaica and the UK.
Seven years later the PPL signed a unilateral agreement with JAMMS for performers, which was regarded as an “industry first” marking significant progress for Jamaica’s music industry, and which closed what was described as a longstanding gap, which had seen the island’s performers miss out on royalty payments where their music was being used overseas.
JAMMS, which is a private, non-profit organization established under the Copyright Act of Jamaica, was incorporated in 2006 to administer the intellectual property rights granted to ‘Record Producers’, meaning owners of the master sound recordings, according to the organisation’s website.
JAMMS mandate is to manage the broadcasting and public performance rights of its members, through its role as a licensing agency and collecting society, which involves the issuing of licences to music users, including, radio and television broadcasters, webcasters, cable operators, clubs operators, restaurants, gyms, party organizers, show promoters and others.
JAMMS’ role extends, to the collection and distribution of royalties, to its members, on account of royalties paid over from the various music users. The organization also represents the repertoire of major international recording companies such as SONYBMG, UNIVERSAL, WARNER MUSIC and EMI.
Over the past several weeks JAMMS has ramped up its social media marketing to potential and current members.
“Producers and Performers, work on your catalog. Register with JAMMS. Watch your pension grow!” it advised on one post.
It also posted another targeting session musicians, who are hired by music producers to play whatever instrumentals are needed during a recording session.
“Session Musicians link up. We’ve got you covered also. Performers’ royalties from across the globe. If you’ve played on at least 10 songs, link us via musicmaker@jammsonline.com. ‘If you don’t make money then you don’t make sense’ – Mavado,” the company wrote.
It also reassured music producers that its agents were working hard on their behalf.
“While you are busy creating music, we are busy ensuring that your rights are protected so that you can earn. Record producers, contact us at musicmaker@jammsonline.com to find out how you can become a member of JAMMS. Big up to the hundreds of local Producers who already know the score! #musicroyalties,” the company wrote.