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Spotify is a Swedish music streaming company that offers services to the Europe and US, Asia, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.
In order to offer services in jurisdictions like the USA, three licences must be acquired:
1. Recording Licences
2. Public Performance rights
3. Mechanical rights.
1. Recording Licences
2. Public Performance rights
3. Mechanical rights.
1. Recording- Spotify has signed an agreement with 3 major recording companies for the actual music.
2. Performance licence- these licences are acquired to play music in public, eg. streaming.
3. Mechanical royalties must be paid to songwriters when the music is streamed.
2. Performance licence- these licences are acquired to play music in public, eg. streaming.
3. Mechanical royalties must be paid to songwriters when the music is streamed.
In countries like the USA and UK, there are licensing bodies that are responsible for music copyright, royalties and publishing.
One example in the USA is American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) which has over 400,000 members (composers, songwriters).
One example in the USA is American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) which has over 400,000 members (composers, songwriters).
In Jamaica, the licensing organization is Jamaica Association of Composers, Authors and Publishers Limited (JACAP).
Therefore, in order to legally play copyright music online, on the radio or even at an event, a licence must be obtained through JACAP.
Therefore, in order to legally play copyright music online, on the radio or even at an event, a licence must be obtained through JACAP.
So the question now:
Why isn’t Spotify available in our region when the necessary infrastructures are in place?
Why isn’t Spotify available in our region when the necessary infrastructures are in place?
It could be argued that Spotify is still growing in terms of its reach in different jurisdictions.
Also, Spotify since its launch in 2006 has paid $9.76 billion for royalties to artists and record labels. Spotify pays for their expenses with membership payment of its users
Also, Spotify since its launch in 2006 has paid $9.76 billion for royalties to artists and record labels. Spotify pays for their expenses with membership payment of its users
So while Jamaican artistes are able to add their music to the Spotify library through distributors/record label, there is no licensing agreement existing between Spotify and Jamaica for streaming.
