A society of writers & publishers, the Eastern Caribbean Collective Organization of Music Rights (ECCO) is a Collective Management Organization (CMO) responsible for the administration of performance rights and the licensing of public use of music. Through reciprocal agreements with CMOs throughout the World, ECCO represents and can license virtually the whole worldwide repertoire of copyright music for public performance, broadcast, cable transmission, online and mobile use.

Essentially, ECCO serves as an intermediary body between writers & publishers and music users, providing a one-stop avenue for music users to license their public use of a world-wide catalogue of music, and in turn a one-stop collection and distribution avenue for ECCO members (writers, composers and publishers) for royalties due to them from the public use of music emanating from a number of sources, worldwide.

Simply put; ECCO licenses users of Copyright Music and pays Writers and Publishers whose music was performed, in the form of royalties.  That is all ECCO exists to do. A role which according to the organization’s audited financial statements, ECCO is becoming better at; producing growth year after year which exceeds national averages.

Membership in ECCO is not a benefit membership whereby due are paid out to members yearly simply as a result of their membership. Rather, members are paid royalties based on performance logs and data from licensed broadcasters and events. Therefore, it should be clearly understood that no performances means no Royalties. Further, considering the role of ECCO, it should be noted that it is the responsibility of the individual songwriter and/or his publisher to seek out usage of his songs in as many ways as possible.

In fact membership of ECCO is similar to that of a Credit Union, where although you are a member of the Credit Union, you do not get free money given to you. Rather you can only draw out what you put in.  Therefore, in the case of Songwriter members of ECCO, if your music is performed in a licensed venue or by a licensed Broadcaster you will get Royalties from ECCO.  If your works are not performed you will not be entitled to any Royalties.

 ECCO will therefore not perform fraud by giving to members what they are not entitled to. In fact giving free money to any  member means that the members of ECCO or its Affiliate Societies whose musical works are regularly performed are being  disadvantaged. Further, this would serve as a breach of ECCO’s mandate resulting in penalty action from overseeing bodies  and affiliate societies.

 Despite ECCO’s success in collecting licensing revenue, the organization has seen a lower percentage of national  performances across the ECCO territories. It is an undisputed fact, that currently only an average of between 5% and 10% of  Music performed locally is written by ECCO members.  Therefore out of every $1M which ECCO distributes, an average of  only $50,000 to $100,000 will be due to ECCOs 600 plus members, as their share of distributable revenue.

 Considering this, ECCO General Manager, Steve Etienne believes it is essential that focus be placed on establishing other  vital areas of the music industry within the Eastern Caribbean. “I have been advocating for years that what we should be concentrating on is building a Music Industry focused on Exports and to promote the Business of Music, other than wanting to tear down the only successful pillar of the nascent Music Industry,” Etienne offers.

He believes that it is important that others take a cue from ECCO and set up other components of the Music industry that can take its place alongside ECCO.  This, Etienne says, can be supported by ECCO, to do all the things which ECCO cannot do.

The formation and establishment of Musicians Associations, Promoters Associations, Artist and Writer development forums, Audio Visual productions entities, and the development of policies which can influence the creation and performance of more local content; are a few examples recommended by Etienne as necessary components need to boost growth of Eastern Caribbean music industry.

“ECCO should not be the only game in town,” Etienne says. “Other entities should use their areas of expertise to create critical mass and bring real benefits to all participants in the Music Industry. For example, in the case of St Lucia, were ECCO is headquartered, we are hopeful that the Government and people of St. Lucia will use the strategy document produced for the country by the European firm, SOUND DIPLOMACY, as a template for building a viable export oriented music industry. ECCO is ready and willing to play its part in this endeavor.”