Let the Writers and Performers Keep Their Money - The State of CRM in the Nordics

Presented by NEMAA & EMMA

The EU’s Collective Rights Management (CRM) Directive was introduced to ensure that songwriters, artists, and rights holders are fairly compensated. While some Nordic organizations have already implemented most aspects of the directive, others are still lagging behind – raising questions about legality, fairness, and competitiveness.

At the same time, creators face mounting challenges. Streaming payouts remain low, live touring has become more expensive, and inflation is squeezing both songwriters, artists, producers, and the wider music sector. In this environment, every dollar of royalties matters more than ever. The CRM directive was intended to increase transparency, make it easier for rights holders to track and receive their royalties, and to give them more choice in how and where their rights are managed. So, what’s the status here?

Panel:

Henrik Bhamra, Chair at NEMAA
Karl Vestli, Executive Director at TONO
Kim Skarning Andersen, Managing Director at Gramo
Simon Gozzi, Head of Business Development & Industry Insight

Moderated by Jess Partridge, Executive Director of EMMA