Page 197 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - APRIL 2025 (Part 2)

Artists claim their rights

Meanwhile, Lauri Rechardt, Chief Legal Officer at the worldwide recording industry organisation
IFPI (The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry), explained that the launch of EMR
marks a significant step for the UAE music market.

“I would say, in industry standards, these types of collective licencing organisations exist, and by
launching this initiative, the EMR and the UAE will be coming up to the same standards as you
would find elsewhere in developed music markets,” he said.

Lauri Rechardt. Photo: Supplied

“It ensures that in their home market, the UAE now has the ability to benefit from their performance
rights.”

He noted that the legal framework in the UAE already supports music rights holders.

“The UAE law already grants music right holders the rights over the use of their music in
broadcasting and public performance,” Rechardt added.

However, he pointed out that enforcement had been lacking prior to EMR’s establishment.

“Before EMR — or collective management organisations (CMOs) in general— came into play, those
rights had not been effectively monetised. Users of music often failed to seek permission or make
payments for the music they used, highlighting a gap between legislation and its practical
application.”
Importance of EMR in the region’s creative landscape

Caroline Champarnaud, Executive Director International at SACEM (The Society of Authors,
Composers and Publishers of Music), the French authors’ rights society and the world's first
collective management organisation (CMO) for music, pointed out the importance of EMR in the
region's creative landscape.

“There is a good creative community,” she says, “but for the time being, they have nowhere to go to
have their rights represented.” According to Champarnaud, the launch of EMR marks a significant
milestone for the creative industry in the UAE, both culturally and economically. “Having a CMO in
the UAE also brings legal security for the users of music — radios, TVs, malls, festivals, concerts,
organisers, etc. It helps structure the industry.”

Caroline Champarnaud. Photo: Supplied

She noted that when creators are fairly compensated, it lays the foundation for building a strong
local culture that can be exported globally. “The more you remunerate the creators, the better they
can live out of their creation,” she added.

Speaking on behalf of SACEM, one of the oldest CMOs in the world, Champarnaud shared that they
were proud to be consulted in the formation of EMR. “We do have a particular relationship with the

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/new-law-musicians-rights-revenue