The international trade bodies representing music publishers, authors, composers and the recording industry have agreed to develop jointly a global identification scheme for digital music content.

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The main aim of the project is to enable efficient management of the delivery of music online.

The four major players of the music industry, RIAA, IFPI, CISAC and BIEM, are now working together on the project assigned to consultants Rightscom to develop a system for identifying transactions involving sound recordings and multimedia packages including music.

In a fast-changing digital world where music can be 'packaged' in a range of different formats a unique identifier will be crucial in enabling the delivery of music content to consumers, and the management of the associated rights. The identifier will aim to support the sales, licensing and tracking needs crucial to the successful operation of online commerce.

The project will be integrated as far as possible with already existing identification systems, such as the International Standard Recording Code (ISRC), the Information System Work Code (ISWC), as well as systems currently in place that identify composers, authors and music publishers.

A current problem for example, is that even if a recording has an identifier such as an ISRC or a proprietary number allocated by the record company, it is still very difficult to verify if the use of the musical composition is licensed, by whom and for what kind of use. The new identifier should solve those problems.

Based on the achievements of the Common Information System (CIS) plan, which identifies all the parameters concerning the work of authors societies, BIEM and CISAC will quickly provide the results of a thorough requirements analysis, comparable to that already done by the recording industry. The technical requirements of industry partners such as musicians, retailers and e-tailers will also be assessed as part of this process. The project is expected to conclude in August 2001.

Management of the project, including financing and technical expertise, and sharing of the results will be done on an equal basis between the recording industry on the one hand and authors and publishers on the other.

 

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