Towards a syndicate of music recognition technologies.
MS
Photo: Tim Tyson
Towards a syndicate of music recognition technology.
Collaboration for a transparent future.
In an industry often slowed by outdated systems, our panel at the New Visions for Music & Sound Conference in Berlin on 6th September brought together a diverse group of experts to explore the future of music monitoring and reporting. Moderated by Mandy Salem-Aubry, the panel featured insights from Fatiha Ben Brahim, a business consultant and copyright & royalty leadership coach; Guillaume de Lavenère, co-founder of Claimy; Albert Gruber, co-founder of Seeqnc; and Richard Kurka, co-founder of Aurismatic.
The discussion focused on key themes such as identifying gaps in current monitoring systems, innovative technological approaches, and the critical role of collaboration within the industry. Each panellist presented unique perspectives on how their companies address the challenges of music usage tracking and royalty distribution. The consensus emerged that no one company can solve all complexities alone; rather, the future lies in collaborative efforts among platforms to create a syndicate of technologies that effectively meet the evolving needs of the industry.
Since the panel, the discussion has continued with even more enthusiasm as we explore the potential of working together.
Addressing the gaps
In follow-up conversations, Guillaume de Lavenère from Claimy reflects on how traditional systems still fall short. He states, “The music industry is moving beyond outdated declarative systems towards precise, real-time tracking of music usage.” Guillaume continues to emphasise that transforming large data sets into actionable insights is essential to help rights holders maximise their catalogue value.
Albert Gruber from Seeqnc also shared his post-event thoughts on the challenges in monitoring live performances and DJ sets. “With increased monitoring, the expanding data can overwhelm smaller or non-tech companies,” Albert explains. He stresses that simplifying this data is crucial to ensure fair compensation for artists and greater efficiency in reporting.
Richard Kurka, co-founder of Aurismatic, continues to emphasise the need for better live performance tracking. “Our technology excels in identifying live music at events like festivals, ensuring fast and fair royalty distribution for artists and organisers alike,” Richard states, reiterating the importance of automating setlist reporting to reduce errors and improve speed.
Adding new voices: Vollou
Andres Payne of Vollou was already brought into the panel discussion by Mandy from the audience and has now joined the ongoing conversations post-event. Vollou’s app-based solution modernises setlist reporting for DJs and venues, and Andres’ input aligns closely with the broader themes that emerged. Vollou’s focus on replacing manual processes with a streamlined digital approach continues to resonate as a vital innovation across all areas of music reporting.
Andres notes, “Moving away from manual reporting is essential, as it reduces errors and ensures faster, fairer royalty distribution for DJs and performers alike.” His perspective reinforces that technology and collaboration can bring about real change.
Collaboration as the path forward
As our discussions have evolved post-panel, it’s become even more apparent that the future of music monitoring depends on collaboration, not competition. Each panellist highlights their company’s unique strengths, but all point to the potential power of working together.
Richard Kurka of Aurismatic suggests, “By combining the best technologies from smaller, specialised companies, we can create comprehensive solutions that cater to all aspects of music recognition.” Guillaume de Lavenère from Claimy agrees, adding, “Data needs to be transformed into actionable insights, and this is where collaboration can make all the difference.” Albert Gruber from Seeqnc echoes these sentiments, noting how collaboration could create a more cohesive ecosystem for rights holders, ensuring a more efficient and transparent system for all.
A unified future: The road ahead
The continued dialogue after the panel has generated excitement about the potential for a syndicate of music recognition technologies. By creating a collaborative ecosystem where each player brings their strengths, we could move towards a more unified, transparent, and efficient system for music monitoring.
Through these ongoing discussions, the idea of a syndicate of music recognition technologists (SMaRT) has naturally emerged. The concept reflects the collective vision of working together to achieve greater efficiency and fairness. Through informal partnerships or a more structured syndicate, this collaborative approach could ensure that all stakeholders—from rights holders to venues—benefit from improved processes and fairer compensation.
Fatiha Ben Brahim remarks, “I am so excited for the future of royalty reporting and income tracking with these emerging technologies. Each of the discussed companies and their solutions to complex challenges are part of the value chain. There are enough fish in the pond for everyone.”
The companies behind the innovations
Claimy
Claimy is a next-generation music rights tracking platform that maximises revenue through AI and large data models. By aggregating data from major distribution channels and territories, Claimy provides real-time revenue forecasts and automatically identifies discrepancies to recover missing rights. The platform focuses on transparency and accuracy for rightsholders, ensuring they maximise their income.
Seeqnc
Seeqnc is a platform that transforms music consumption data into actionable reports, helping rights holders maximise their catalogue value. Focusing on real-time tracking and notifications, Seeqnc simplifies the management of music usage data, particularly for live performances and DJ sets, ensuring efficiency in reporting and payments.
Aurismatic
Aurismatic offers advanced music monitoring solutions that recognise live performances at festivals and events. By automating setlist reporting, Aurismatic ensures royalties are distributed quickly and fairly, reducing manual errors and streamlining the reporting process for artists and organisers. With over 2,000 setlists tracked at 50 festivals, Aurismatic is at the forefront of live event monitoring.
Vollou
Vollou modernises music reporting for DJs, venues, and festivals with a streamlined mobile app that replaces manual setlist reporting processes. By facilitating easy setlist reporting directly to Performance Rights Organisations (PROs), Vollou ensures that royalties are distributed fairly and efficiently. The app has gained significant traction among leading DJs and music events globally, contributing to the ongoing transformation of the music reporting landscape.
