There is a lack of interest and empirical analysis in the
existing literature on composers’ relations with their publishers
and the role of Collective Management Organizations (CMOs)
within the system of music copyright. The purpose of this paper
is to explore and understand the influence of digitization within
the music industry on the copyright enforcement in the
Netherlands and on rights holders and the CMOs. Also to
explore and understand how their mutual relationships are
affected by digitization of the music industry. A qualitative
analysis was done by reviewing scientific literature, performing a
documents analysis and doing open interviews. In the existing
economics of copyright literature, the main focus is set on
transaction costs, efficiency and welfare topics. The findings can
be used to understand and model how rights holders and CMOs
cope with the digitization and contribute to the policy makers
and economic actor’s discussion about future improvement of
the copyright enforcement system.
