EMI Music Publishing, one of the largest music publishers in the world, has signed its first sub-licensing deal in the Middle East, with Fairwood Music (Arabia) in Dubai.
The deal makes EMI the second big publishing catalogue to sign an exclusive regional sub-licensing deal with Fairwood, after the Dubai company signed a similar deal with Universal Music Publishing last year.
It also represents a big step towards more composers and songwriters getting paid for the use of their songs in a region notorious for not paying music rights holders, according to Hussain Yoosuf, the managing director of Fairwood.
"Two years ago, most major publishers were very suspicious of any request coming from the Middle East, because they are very protective of how they licence their copyrights," he said.
"They don't necessarily want to give a licence to someone to use something on an advertising campaign for a year, and then have them use it for five years. But as we have begun to develop a close relationship with all of the majors, that has begun to change."
Fairwood Music (Arabia) was founded in January last year as the region's first company attempting to represent in the Middle East the leading music publishers, the organisations that hold the intellectual property rights to the song as a composition, as opposed to the recorded track.
Music publishers are supposed to be paid whenever a song is used in a commercial, played on the radio or sold on a CD, but often in the Middle East they are not.
When they are, the transaction is often managed through European offices where requests from the Middle East are not the top priority, Mr Yoosuf said.
"Generally speaking, no radio stations or broadcasters here are paying for licensing the music that they are using, which isn't in line with the music rights protected by UAE copyright law," he said.
Part of the problem is that the UAE lacks a performers' rights organisation, the body that in most countries acts as a conduit between the music publishers and the record labels. Talks have been under way at government level to address this problem for more than a year, and Mr Yoosuf hopes the arrival of another major catalogue sub-licence in the region will help push this process forward.
"We are making the right kind of inroads into seeing things happen," he said. "We've had a lot more conversations with various parties, including music users, who seem less reluctant to discussing licensing as they were last year. I think part of it has to do with the fact that major music publishers have started to enter the marketplace."
Jo Smith, the head of business affairs at EMI Music Publishing UK, said Fairwood's years of experience in the region helped convince her company to enter the Middle-Eastern market.
"The United Arab Emirates is still a relatively new market for music publishing, but we're seeing tremendous growth and vitality and want to make sure that our songwriters are able to take advantage of the opportunities that are beginning to emerge," she said.
khagey@thenational.ae
SPECS
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Types of policy
Term life insurance: this is the cheapest and most-popular form of life cover. You pay a regular monthly premium for a pre-agreed period, typically anything between five and 25 years, or possibly longer. If you die within that time, the policy will pay a cash lump sum, which is typically tax-free even outside the UAE. If you die after the policy ends, you do not get anything in return. There is no cash-in value at any time. Once you stop paying premiums, cover stops.
Whole-of-life insurance: as its name suggests, this type of life cover is designed to run for the rest of your life. You pay regular monthly premiums and in return, get a guaranteed cash lump sum whenever you die. As a result, premiums are typically much higher than one term life insurance, although they do not usually increase with age. In some cases, you have to keep up premiums for as long as you live, although there may be a cut-off period, say, at age 80 but it can go as high as 95. There are penalties if you don’t last the course and you may get a lot less than you paid in.
Critical illness cover: this pays a cash lump sum if you suffer from a serious illness such as cancer, heart disease or stroke. Some policies cover as many as 50 different illnesses, although cancer triggers by far the most claims. The payout is designed to cover major financial responsibilities such as a mortgage or children’s education fees if you fall ill and are unable to work. It is cost effective to combine it with life insurance, with the policy paying out once if you either die or suffer a serious illness.
Income protection: this pays a replacement income if you fall ill and are unable to continue working. On the best policies, this will continue either until you recover, or reach retirement age. Unlike critical illness cover, policies will typically pay out for stress and musculoskeletal problems such as back trouble.
'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore'
Rating: 3/5
Directed by: David Yates
Starring: Mads Mikkelson, Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller, Jude Law
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Company%20Profile
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Company%20Profile
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Eyasses squad
Charlie Preston (captain) – goal shooter/ goalkeeper (Dubai College)
Arushi Holt (vice-captain) – wing defence / centre (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Olivia Petricola (vice-captain) – centre / wing attack (Dubai English Speaking College)
Isabel Affley – goalkeeper / goal defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Jemma Eley – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Alana Farrell-Morton – centre / wing / defence / wing attack (Nord Anglia International School)
Molly Fuller – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Caitlin Gowdy – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Noorulain Hussain – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai College)
Zahra Hussain-Gillani – goal defence / goalkeeper (British School Al Khubairat)
Claire Janssen – goal shooter / goal attack (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Eliza Petricola – wing attack / centre (Dubai English Speaking College)
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TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5