APRA AMCOS and Downtown sign Pan-Asian agreement

APRA AMCOS and global music rights management firm Downtown Music Publishing have signed a Pan-Asian digital and online rights licensing and administration agreement.

Under the new agreement, APRA AMCOS will represent Downtown’s catalogue, as well as copyrights managed through its global technology platform, Songtrust, on a multi-territory basis throughout Asia in licensing its repertoire to key multi-territory international and regional mobile and online digital music and media services, such as Spotify, Apple, Deezer, Tencent, Yonder, and KKBox.

“As Downtown and our Songtrust platform continue to expand our global network, we are thrilled to broaden our direct relationship with APRA AMCOS. This new agreement will further enhance our licensing efforts in the world’s fastest growing region, resulting in faster and more equitable compensation for all of our songwriter and music publishing partners," said Downtown CEO, Justin Kalifowitz.

Downtown has become the sixth global publisher to work with APRA AMCOS on its Pan-Asian digital licensing and administration since the initiative was launched in July 2013.

“We are truly excited to be partnering with Downtown in our rapidly expanding Asian business,” said APRA AMCOS Chief Executive, Brett Cottle.

Downtown joins Universal Music Publishing, Peermusic, Imagem, Hillsong Music and ORiGiN as part of the initiative, which covers the Asian region including India and China.

Downtown’s songwriting roster runs the breadth of the music spectrum, from iconic legends such as John Lennon, Imogen Heap, and Hans Zimmer to current superstar hit makers like Benny Blanco, Ryan Tedder and One Direction.

The company’s Songtrust platform is used by over 100,000 songwriters to collect music publishing royalties worldwide.

As legal digital services begin to gain traction across Asia, rights holders, service providers and users are benefiting from APRA AMCOS’s efficient multi-territory licensing initiative, which opens up a significant proportion of the world’s leading music.