IMPEL Collective Management Limited has launched to represent multi-territory online rights for independent publishers.
IMPEL is currently part of the MPA Group Of Companies, alongside the Music Publishers Association (MPA), MCPS, and PMLL. Under its restructure, IMPEL will become a standalone entity to focus on its independent members’ interests.
It has previously been a trading name for various music publishers, who have granted representation to MCPS to license and administer the mechanical rights in their Anglo-American repertoire in international online activities on their behalf. IMPEL will now take charge of those rights in order to facilitate licensing opportunities for its members on a global basis.
As a separate company, IMPEL will become a collection society and be owned by its UK and international members. The move will allow more flexibility in offering non-exclusivity to members outside of the core IMPEL European territories.
The boards of both MCPS and IMPEL plan to complete the transition by April 2018.
Jane Dyball, CEO of the MPA Group Of Companies, said: “In a highly competitive market there is a group of independent music publishers who are firmly committed to sticking together to improve their position in the digital landscape, and to provide a nimble and adaptable service to their members.”
Simon Platz, chair of IMPEL, said: “It is no secret that IMPEL has aspirations towards the success of Merlin and this is the next step on that mission. IMPEL is owned only by independent music publishers. We are a group of publishers totally wedded to independence and totally wedded to being stronger together.”
The new company offers the benefits of collective rights management to independent publishers, including the ability to combine their repertoire and offer it on a multi-territory basis to digital music services under a single license.
IMPEL has around 50 publisher members and represents songs recorded by Ed Sheeran, Drake, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, Glass Animals, Rag’N’Bone Man and Camila Cabello.
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