Cobalt reports that its contributions account for over 35% of the top 100 songs and albums in both the USA and Great Britain.
The company boasts a catalog of 700,000Songs from renowned songwriters, including Max Martin, Paul McCartney, Stevie NIX, Childish Gambino, Karol G., Bon Iver, and many more.
Launch of the Kosign Platform
On February 25, Kobalt introduced a new publishing platform named Kosign, aimed at emerging artists and songwriters.
The platform is accessible through invitations or applications, and according to the company, it utilizes the same royalty collection system as the “trusted” superstars mentioned earlier.
Cobalt assesses that $1 billion in publishing fees remains uncollected every year. The new Kosign platform is designed to assist independent artists, songwriters, and producers in capturing their fair share from this considerable royalty pool.
Previously, the company had pioneered an invitation-only service platform for independent artists called Aval, which was sold to Sony Music for $430 million in 2021.
With the launch of the Kosign platform, offering publishing administration services, Cobalt asserts that it presents “a frictionless alternative to traditional publishing transactions.”
According to the frequently asked questions regarding Kosign, participants can access “licensing and registration systems as well as advanced technologies for tracking and collecting royalties through both Cobalt and Amra.”
“For far too long, talented emerging artists have struggled to navigate the complexities of music publishing and collect the revenue they rightfully earned,” stated Laurent Hubert, Cobalt’s CEO.
“Kosign eliminates these barriers, providing songwriters with a clear, affordable method to manage their publishing with the same power and sophistication previously reserved for major artists and songwriters.”
Laurent Hubert, Cobalt
Hubert further emphasized: “Kosign removes these barriers, giving songwriters a clear, affordable way to handle their publishing with the same tools and sophistication previously available only to big-name artists.”
The new Kosign platform, which started accepting applications today, seeks to license music publishing rights directly with prominent and emerging digital platforms worldwide, including Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, YouTube, and more.
According to the platform’s FAQ, it leverages “industry-leading technology to monitor your songs’ plays, streams, and views” and collects fees “typically within three months, rather than the conventional year or longer.”
Furthermore, participants can manage registrations with performance rights organizations (PROs) and collective management organizations (CMOs) globally via the Kosign portal (see below) to collect fees from radio, television, and live performances.
Cobalt states that Kosign provides “a streamlined interface for presenting songs for global registration managed by the expert Cobalt Administrator team.”
According to the Kosign website, contracts operate on an 80/20 split in favor of members for collected fees. Songwriters retain 100% of their copyrights.
The platform allows participants to track revenue by territory, platform, and song.
“Kosign is more than just a platform – it represents a movement,” said Janett Peres, President and Chief Commercial Officer of Kobalt.
“Whether you are a new artist building your career or an established songwriter seeking more flexibility, Kosign provides you with the tools, transparency, and experience for success.”
Jeannette Perez, Cobalt
Perez further remarked: “We are committed to providing artists and songwriters the freedom and support they need to thrive in today’s music industry.
“Regardless of whether you are a new artist creating your career or an established songwriter looking for flexibility, Kosign equips you with the necessary tools and transparency for success.”
Applications for Kosign membership are now open. Kosign indicates that decisions on applications will be made within 1-2 business days.
Lucas focuses on the interaction between music and society. He specializes in how music influences and reflects cultures, analyzing the role of sound in social, political, and cultural events around the world.
