Nightclubs to implement music recognition technology to help artists

Nightclubs to implement music recognition technology to help artists

This pioneering alliance will help royalties reach their legitimate owners, in a sector that generates US$ 26.2 BN a year worldwide

An international acoustic quality seal will encourage the payment of copyrights to protect artists and composers

(BARCELONA, SPAIN) March 28, 2023

Dear all,

We are pleased to inform you of the agreement reached by the International Nightlife Association (INA) and the expert company in MRT technology (Music Recognition Technology) BMAT. As a result of said agreement, both entities join forces to achieve to automatically identify the intellectual property of the songs that are reproduced in nightlife venues through BMAT’s technology and with this, ensure that the royalties reach the artists, composers, and producers who own them.

Thus, through the agreement reached by both entities, a new path is opened in which the circle is closed within the music that sounds in public spaces. We know that the music that sounds in nightclubs, bars, pubs, etc., is very different from what is heard on the radio or television, and it is very important that the industry is aware of this. Knowing what music was playing in a venue was impossible a decade ago, but today, thanks to the audio fingerprint technology that BMAT developed more than 15 years ago, it is possible to know it with the highest level of detail.

As Jaume Vintró, BMAT's Director of Operations has explained, “Our MRT (Music Recognition Technology) helps all parties be transparent with the artists they represent. In addition, the recognition system can be openly audited to demonstrate that the identifications are correct. This alliance created today shows the commitment of the nightlife sector to the music industry and what supports it - artists and composers - to help them receive the recognition and royalties they deserve when their music is played in establishments open to the public, which is worthy of recognition and gratitude."

For his part, Joaquim Boadas, Secretary General of the INA, stated after signing the agreement that "Our sector is fully committed to music recognition technology in bars and clubs so that the rightful owners of the music reproduced in our premises are adequately and fairly compensated. This collaboration agreement signed yesterday between both entities will allow the BMAT MRT system to be implemented in more than 200 countries, with artists and composers from all over the world benefiting and their work will be adequately remunerated.”

The recorded music industry generates US $ 26.2 BN per year worldwide

The global recorded music market does not stop growing. Thus, during the past year 2022, the global recorded music market generated a revenue of US $ 26.2 BN with a growth of 9% compared to 2021, being the ninth consecutive year of growth.

By region, the world region that experienced the most growth was Sub-Saharan Africa with an increase of 34.7% followed by the Middle East region with a rise of 23.8%, with Latin America occupying third place with 25. 9%, For its part, Europe experienced a growth of 7.5% and 5% in the US & Canada.

As Frances Moore, Executive Director of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), defends in her 2022 annual report "The core of a record company’s mission remains partnering with artists to help them achieve their greatest creative and commercial potential. Today, that alliance has expanded to more areas and more parts of the world as record companies increase their focus on innovation."

An international acoustic quality label will ensure the protection of artists and composers

On the other hand, to reinforce the commitment of nightlife venues to artists’ and composers’ rights, the INA has decided to include BMAT’s system as a requirement for venues to obtain the International Nightlife Acoustic Quality (INAQ). Among other requirements for the INAQ are venues being up to date with the payment with the PRO (Performance Rights Organizations) of its country, a fact that will greatly help to make the entire musical ecosystem fairer and more efficient.

About BMAT

BMAT was born in 2005 at the Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona and is the operating system of the music industry. It provides data for a fair distribution of royalties to artists, working with more than 8.000 radio, television, and venues in 255 territories. With a database of 151 million works, they have managed to get more than 2 billion euros to reach their rightful owners every year.