Marching to the Beat of the EU's Drum: Refining the Collective Management of Music Rights in the United States to Facilitate the Growth of Interactive Streaming

Abstract

Abstract:In the digital era, interactive streaming is now the preferred method for music consumers to access their favorite albums and songs. The traditional copyright system used to administer music rights and royalties has not evolved accordingly, which not only impedes progress by music platform innovators, but also frustrates artist, labels, and composers who are unable to reap the benefits of their music rights.This Note examines the complex process interactive streaming services undergo to obtain the rights necessary to stream music through their platforms, which involves a discussion of collective rights organizations. This Note then argues that the European Directive on collective rights management offers mechanisms that the United States Copyright Office should adopt to improve collective music rights management in the United States. Finally, this Note argues that creating a global authoritative rights database (GARD) that ties use to ownership is necessary to move the music rights administration process into the digital age.