COTT now national distributor for digital music codes

The Copyright Music Organisation of TT (COTT) is now the national distributing agency for International Standard Recording Codes (ISRC). COTT became the official agency to distribute the codes on September 2.

ISRC codes are used to provide a means of uniquely identifying sound recordings and music videos that are digitally released internationally, regardless of format. The ISRC enables the tracking of these recordings through the music value chain. This means that members of COTT, as well as other interested persons, can acquire these codes through COTT. This will enable them to facilitate the easy distribution of their music through digital platforms and track where in the world their music is played and how often.

COTT president John Arnold said COTT has joined the ranks of Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) in the United Kingdom and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in the United States in being able to distribute ISRCs.

He said COTT formally signed an agreement with the International Federation of the Recording Industry (IFPI) to administer neighbouring rights on their behalf in TT in March 2019.

“It was important for us to acquire national agency status as we are now administering neighbouring rights. This acquisition would enable us to further provide efficient and holistic service to our members, which has always been a top priority for us. COTT continues to make strides on behalf of our membership, consistently seeking out new ways to offer efficient and effective representation.”

Regional director of IFPI for Latin America Javier Asensio congratulated COTT on the development.

“COTT’s appointment as an ISRC national agency is a strong endorsement as the music industry’s national authority from the International Federation of the Recording Industry (IFPI). In the last few years COTT has emerged as the champion of artists and the phonogram producers within TT, opening the membership and board of directors to these categories of right holders, as well as the commencement of the licensing of the performance rights of international and local repertoire. Congratulations to COTT for this new achievement, which allows the national music industry to access an efficient means of identifying their catalogues in the digital platforms through the International Standard Recording Code.”