By Jennyfer J. Walker
Swedish songwriters Björn Ulvaeus, Max Martin and Niclas Molinder have launched the Music Rights Awareness foundation to ensure music creators get compensated fairly.
The trio – who are also involved in Auddly, which helps music makers register their rights – will provide those in need with the necessary information to take back control of their music in this digital age, where their work is spread out across many platforms, and help them to make a proper living from their music.
“Information and education is obviously always key and I am hoping Music Rights Awareness, together with others, will help the creative community help themselves in the challenges ahead,” said Max Martin, who’s worked with everyone from Britney, to Backstreet Boys, to Taylor Swift.
“In the new, digital world the songwriter is often the weaker part in a negotiation. Knowledge is power and that’s where Music Rights Awareness comes in,” added ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus.
“While working together, we realized that there is an ignorance when it comes to rights among both songwriters and the industry. We are convinced that many of the legal disputes that are now underway could have been averted, and with Music Rights Awareness we can help the world's musicians at a broader level,” said Niclas Molinder, one half of Swedish production team Twin.
The foundation’s first project, titled Music Rights in Africa will focus on educating Malawi, Rwanda and Tanzania.
