Neighboring rights management as a service : Case: Elements Music Oy

Abstract

The purpose of the research was to develop a business model for a small independent music publisher, Elements Music. The new area of business the company wanted to move to, is neighboring rights management. First, the royalty collection process of the Finnish collecting society Gramex had to be researched. The aim of the study was clear in the beginning. The subject proved to be hard as the study progressed.

The methods used in the study are qualitative interview, content analysis and benchmarking. Data for the study was collected from literature, the internet and by interviewing. The interviews were carried out over the phone. Some of the literature found on the subject was old, but not problematic, because the basic principles of music copyrights have not changed much over the years. Internet provided good up-to-date information about recent changes in the field.

The result of this thesis is a set of recommendations. The commissioner can find valuable information to guide them further in entering the new area of business, as can other companies in the music industry. The music copyright field proved to be more complicated than expected. Better delimitations would have been in order. A further study is required to make definite decisions.