A new music technology platform
A new British company called Rights to the melody has launched a music technology platform that, according to its press release, will “revolutionize the way music creators manage and distribute their content.”
Focus beyond traditional distribution
Melody Rights states in its Frequently Asked Questions that it is technically a distribution company, but not a traditional one.
The company indicates that it has chosen not to compete with established distribution players such as CD Baby or DistroKid and will not focus on music distribution to large DSPs like Spotify and Apple Music.
Melody Rights asserts that its distribution network includes access to “top-tier platforms in the standard music, gaming and social music categories,” with plans for “rapid expansion.”
The company claims its unique selling proposition is focusing on everything behind the scenes so that musicians receive payment each time their music is played, streamed, synced, or downloaded.
According to Melody Rights’ FAQ, rather than “putting your music on Spotify, Amazon, or any other streaming platform,” the company emphasizes “selling your music and then tracking where it is played or sold to generate revenue.”
Melody Rights argues that by going “much beyond” DSPs like Spotify and Amazon, artists will gain access to “a much wider range of income streams.”
The company was founded by managing director Bobby Cole, a British musical composer, sound engineer, and songwriter.
Expanding revenue opportunities
In the microstock domain, Melody Rights plans to register its users’ music on platforms that license music for videos and content, such as AudioSparx, Motion Elements, Pond5, and DepositPhotos.
Additionally, it will register music for sale and use in games on platforms like Itch.io and Game Dev Marketplace, and upload music to social music platforms such as SoundCloud, MixCloud, Bandcamp, ReverbNation, and others.
The company states it’s “like having an extra member of your team to ensure you don’t miss out on any of your earnings.”
Melody Rights also assists its users in registering music for royalties, publishing royalties, neighboring rights, traditional mechanics (for physical copies like vinyl or CDs), digital mechanics (for downloading or streaming), and Content ID (to earn revenue when your music is used on platforms like YouTube).
The company operates on a revenue-sharing model, where depending on the package chosen, it receives a portion of the royalties earned.
For instance, according to Melody Rights, its “Artist Plan” splits royalties 50/50, while the “Producer Plan” offers a 60/40 split and the “Label Plan” provides a 70/30 split in favor of the artist.
Furthermore, for a label, publisher, or music promotion service, it provides a commission on royalties received via its platform.
The company promises to deliver royalty reports outlining revenue sources, including a breakdown by platform, revenue type (e.g., streams, downloads), and timing.
“This launch marks the beginning of an exciting journey to support creators by allowing them to distribute their work widely while maintaining control over their rights and royalties.”
Bobby Cole
“Our mission is to empower music creators by giving them the tools they need to succeed in today’s fast-paced music world,” states Bobby Cole, Founder and Managing Director of Melody Rights.
Bobby Cole further remarked: “This launch marks the beginning of an exciting journey to support creators by allowing them to distribute their work widely while maintaining control over their rights and royalties.”
UK-based Melody Rights launches new rights management and distro platform
