Music metadata identifiers & links: the weakest link in music royalties? (MiCannes preview)

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐫𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?
The issue often stems from the inconsistent use and broken links between crucial identifiers like ISRC (for recordings) and ISWC (for works). This metadata tangle makes accurate royalty distribution incredibly challenging.
As part of my ongoing series (article 2/10) exploring how to modernize music rights management ahead of #MiCannes, the linked article unpacks this critical challenge of linking works to recordings.
We explore why existing practices fall short and touch upon innovative solutions needed to build a system where creators are compensated accurately and transparently.
During the week, we will publish deep dives into the proposed solution to 1 and 2 of the 10 articles here, so stay tuned.

Implementing robust unique identifier systems and linking mechanisms.

Identifiers like ISRC and ISWC exist, but their inconsistent application and the broken links between works (ISWC) and recordings (ISRCs) across siloed databases cause chaos.

a) Existing Practice: Inconsistent ISRC/ISWC use, duplicate/erroneous data in CMO databases, and frequently broken links between works and recordings hinder accurate tracking and payment.

b) Potential Reengineering Solution: Leverage techs like blockchain or graph databases to inherently link related data points (work-to-recording) immutably from creation, creating a reliable ownership and usage chain.

c) The NIM/CaaS (“Copyright as Financial Asset”) Model: Each ‘Copyright asset’ (work) gets a unique, secure ledger ID (aka CopyrightID). Musical Works (ISWC) and Recordings (ISRCs) are registered as linked assets. Splits/shares are tokenized stakes within the structure. Linking isn’t just improved; it’s inherent and immutable by design.

Reliable linking is fundamental. Without it, accurate royalty distribution is impossible. How can we ensure these connections are made correctly from the start?

I’ll discuss this and the remaining 8 critical tasks for transforming music rights management in the run-up to the MiCannes panel.

More details on: https://micannes.com