The Council of Europe’s European Audiovisual Observatory has just released a very interesting report on music rights in audiovisual works. The publication covers the various legislations applicable in different European countries, and their implication on contracts and usage. In our experience, many producers are not aware of the complexity of the issues – let alone the actual music creators. So both can benefit from this excellent overview. Who holds the actual copyright in music for audiovisuals, for example? The answer is not quite what you would expect.

The report can be downloaded from the Observatory website. A print version was also made available at the Cannes Film Market. It contains further information, such as recent court cases, that show that one’s opinion of what might seem right can be very different from what a court might decide. So whether you are a producer or a music creator, remember to check your contracts occasionally. Highly recommended.