“Neighbouring Rights” also called “Related Rights” are called as much
because they ‘neighbour/sit next to the song copyrights. It is a sound
recording royalty for any performer who has made an audible contribution to
a recording, and to the rights holder who owns the recording.
Managers / Agents
Quick Facts
1
Some CMOs* pay through unclaimed performer share neighbouring rights royalties to the rights holder (i.e. record label), some put it back into the performer pot to be shared among claimed performer shares, and other CMOs invest in local Arts Funds to benefit local performers.
2
Are you frustrated with the AFM mandate conflicts causing a roadblock to your clients’ royalties? There are CMOs that ignore the AFM conflict.
3
Some CMOs (for e.g. Playright and GVL) pay more royalties if your client performed multiple instruments on a recording. Therefore, ensure to claim for each individual instrument you have played on each track.
4
f your client became a PPL performer member before 2008, any international mandate change requests will take 3 months to effectuate. However, if your client joined PPL after 2008, any international mandate change requests will not take effect until 31st of December that calendar year.
5
Production music is a grey area, but some territories do pay for it, such as Brazil and Spain. We are working hard to ascertain which territories pay and which don’t.
6
Have you completed US tax forms for your clients? It is worth submitting W9s and/or W8BENs every 3 years, in order to bypass the 30% withholding tax on US-earned income.
*CMO stands for “Collective Management Organisation”. CMOs are licensing bodies responsible for collecting neighbouring rights royalties.
What does IAFAR do?
The International Association for Artists & Rightsholders (IAFAR) is an organisation that protects, educates
and advocates for those of us in neighbouring and related rights.
Advocacy
IAFAR was founded to tackle worldwide issues affecting the collection of artists neighbouring rights. Our aim is to collaborate with CMO’s and other interested parties to ensure the collection of these rights are as efficient and streamlined as they can be and that all performers receive the income they are rightfully entitled to.
Education
Many people do not know what neighbouring rights are and therefore also do not know what their rights are in this area. As IAFAR grows, it will provide workshops and literature to help educate and de-mystify this part of the music industry.
Community
Providing a community to support, debate and foster this new way of thinking will be beneficial to all members. A common love of beverages also brings us together.
