Creatives, Copyrights, Contracts and Secret Codes – How Amanda Harcourt is Revolutionizing the Music Industry
The music industry has always been a complex and difficult system to navigate for artists and the managers who handle their careers. Now, in the digital era of music – and with AI busting into the scene like a hellbent diva – the industry is an evolving frontier with rapidly changing rules. With big money to be made and a shroud of mystery surrounding streaming rights, the breakdown of funds and a million moving pieces, it’s an area rife for exploitative bad actors. That’s where Amanda Harcourt and Blue Highway Advisory come in.
The Role of Blue Highway Advisory
Blue Highway Advisory, founded by Ian McCaleb, combines legal support with strategic communications, with a dedication to fighting for creators’ rights. Harcourt takes a holistic approach to her work at the company, focusing on helping songwriters, musicians, and filmmakers collect revenue that has been siphoned off by other parties. In the intricate web of the music industry, with the many moving parts and mouths to feed along the way – this is no simple task.
According to Harcourt, "For a music creator or filmmaker to find out if they have been paid correctly, first they need an auditor who will often use data analysis expertise to review the accounting statements and also someone to review the contract to tell them if they’ve got a case. From there, if they do have a potentially good claim they’ll need a litigator, maybe litigation finance and PR support – we want to be a one-stop shop for this."
Rights of Music Creators
Harcourt emphasizes that music creators have the right of audit against their music publisher or record label. Filmmakers with a contractual entitlement to a profit share similarly have such rights. However, the process becomes complex when a work becomes a profit-making entity, leading to various accounting obligations to third parties. Harcourt's experience and groundbreaking results in this space have paved the way for a more transparent and fair system for creators.
Implications of Secondary Revenue
For many creators, there are mechanisms in play that give them a right to a revenue stream after the delivery of the work – known as secondary revenue. In Hollywood, Guilds such as SAG-AFTRA for actors negotiate secondary payments reflecting the usage of the work after delivery. In the music industry, music licensing is done on a collective basis through Collective Management Organizations (CMOs). Despite the advantages of this system, music authors do not have the right to audit their CMOs, highlighting the need for enhanced transparency.
Amanda Harcourt's Impact
Harcourt's extensive experience includes working with prominent artists like U2, conducting audits to ensure fair revenue distribution. Her collaboration with Blue Highway Advisory aims to correct historical revenue theft and provide comprehensive support to music and film creators facing exploitation.
Challenges in the Industry
Despite the success of the music industry, creators often face asymmetry in revenue distribution. Streaming platforms like Spotify offer minimal compensation per stream, leading to disparities between creators and corporations. Harcourt's work sheds light on these inequalities and advocates for a fairer system that prioritizes creators' rights.
In conclusion, Amanda Harcourt's dedication to championing creators' rights and revolutionizing the music industry serves as a beacon of hope for artists navigating a complex and ever-changing landscape.
