Robert Kyncl turns up the heat on PRO metadata matching, and other things we learned in his NMPA keynote in New York

Each year, hundreds of millions of dollars in royalties worldwide are not paid to the right owners due to incomplete or bad data.

It’s been a source of frustration among rights holders for years: where the so-called ‘black box’ money goes where PROs can’t match track metadata with usage, and pay accurately.

Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl he wants the industry to solve the problem and has some suggestions on how to do that.

The officer was interviewed by the NMPA President and Chief Executive David the Israelite of NMPA Annual Meeting at Lincoln Center in New York on Wednesday (June 12).

During the keynote speech, Kyncl was asked to share his ideas in a good way changes can be accessed at collection communities around the world.

Kyncl he told the audience: “One of my concerns is that we’re actually collecting digital money the way we’ve collected analog money for decades. Its speed; everything is the same.

He added: “That’s something we can all do better as a team and I think it will help the songwriters a lot.”

Kyncl it also drew attention to the long-standing issue of data impropriety leading to profits going into the ‘black box’ of the music industry.

“There is a lot of repertoire ownership information that resides with collective organizations, PROs, MLC and not everything is completely the same,” he said.

Kyncl asked the industry to figure out how to “enable” collective communities around the world to “collaborate” to solve the unprecedented data problem.

He added that “reducing” the volume of inappropriate data is “very important, not only for fast cash flow today,” but also for the music industry of the future, especially when AI technology becomes more common.

“If we put the traffic rules in the right way and platforms, it will have to depend on the ownership information,” he said Kyncl. “It’s one of the things we really have to focus on.”

Elsewhere during the keynote speech, CEO of Warner Music Group shared his thoughts on the challenges songwriters face today, the music company’s approach to AI and more. Here’s what we learned…

1) Robert Kyncl argues that we risk “human intelligence being replaced by machines” if the industry doesn’t get AI right.

NMPA manager David the Israelite it asked Robert Kyncl commenting on the problems songwriters see in the age of AI.

Kyncl has been outspoken on AI-related issues in recent months, appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in April to support a US Senate bill that would crack down on unauthorized deepfakes.

In Wednesday’s keynote speech, he explained that Warner has “two main goals” on the AI ​​front: “one is protection,” and the other is “growing the pie and finding good use cases. [for AI].”

He added: “Those two can coexist side by side, but we have to pursue both and that’s what we’re doing.

“If we don’t get this right, we risk human intelligence being replaced by machines, which is obviously not a world everyone wants to live in.”

Kyncl it also identified three “areas” that the company sees as important areas to focus on to address AI-related issues.

The first is the distribution platforms where AI content can end up, the second is “AI is the engine itself”, and the third is the government, which he said involves “lobbying the world where there are pockets of things that we see that we are not doing.” I don’t like it and I want to change.”

He added: “This is very focused. If we don’t get this right, we risk human intelligence being replaced by machines, which is clearly not a world everyone wants to live in.

“We take this as an important thing, as an equally important thing in increasing the importance of music, increasing the pie, and increasing participation in it. But [it’s also about] paving the way for AI to protect the rights of songwriters, the rights of artists [and] to do it completely; and solve it in a way that we can drive progress.”

2) Warner’s manager notes that ‘even though the pie is growing, it’s just getting cut smaller and smaller.’

an Israelite he asked again Kyncl about his thoughts on the challenges songwriters face today from the perspective of a CEO of a major music company with experience from the digital platform side of the industry (he previously served as Chief Business Officer at YouTube).

Kyncl explained: “When you are on the other side, at the distribution point, you judge things by how much you pay in total”.

He continued: “That’s how success is measured.” That’s why Spotify, YouTube [or] an apple [are] talking about their payments, they talk about, ‘We paid industry X and we increased the payments to industry Y’.” The way songwriters and artists feel, is looking at their paychecks. Individually. We have this kind of conflict of two different opinions”.

Kyncl he continued: “The reason why I’m a songwriter [viewpoint] it is different because, with the spread of democracy, it is created by the masses [and] many more people uploading content.

“So the income pie is shrinking. And even though the pie has grown, it just gets cut smaller and smaller. That is one of the things that creates tension.

“Another thing is that a lot of money comes in slowly[ly]and the other is imprisoned and that should not be the case [the case] with digital advantage. That [revenue] it should flow quickly. Some of these things we just need to sort out as an industry, and we haven’t. I look forward to doing that.”

3) Kyncl says Warner can represent songwriters “fully” if they work with the company on both recorded music and publishing.

Robert Kyncl was asked about the “strategic benefits” of a major music company working with talent on both the recorded music and publishing sides of its operations.

an Israelite he cited examples of stars working with both Warner Chappell and Warner Records, including Teddy Swims, Dua Lipa, Zach Bryan and Benson Boone.

Kyncl he explained: “I think it’s better for them.” If you believe in the things I’ve said before, the work we’re doing to expand the pie, expand participation in the pie, and pave the way for AI and the biggest companies in the world, takes on a whole different level. complexity and systems and understanding.”

He added: “If you believe that we are doing good for you on one side, why don’t you participate in the same work on the other side?

“In the past, [and] still, people will do it [say] I prefer to separate [their publishing and record deals between companies]. In my opinion, that’s not the best way to approach songwriters, because they don’t look good.

“If they believe they are getting the same thing from two different companies, yes, but these are complex and difficult problems to solve.

“If we believe that Warner Chappell is the best place and Warner as a whole is the best place for you, you should put [all] your eggs in the basket. It allows us to fully represent ourselves.”Music Business Worldwide