Musicians and copyright: A history of collective rights management in the music industry

Mala Loth has co-edited the newly published anthology Musicians and Copyright, tracing the development of Collective Management Organizations and their impact on copyright and cultural production.

Book cover: Musicians and Copyright

Abstract

Musicians and Copyright explores the role of Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) in shaping the music industry from the mid-nineteenth century to today. Edited by VéroniquePouillard, Marius Buning, and Mala Loth, the book traces the development of CMOs and their impact on copyright and cultural production. Through historical analysis, it examines the challenges CMOs have faced, from colonial contexts to European integration and the digital age, and shows how CMOs have navigated regulatory changes, technological shifts, and internal politics. Offering a detailed history of these important institutions, Musicians and Copyright is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the intersection of music, law, and the cultural industries.

Full info

Introduction
Véronique Pouillard, Marius Buning, and Mala Loth

8. Competing Futures: GEMA, the European Commission, and Copyright Law, 1962-1972
Mala Loth

In: Musicians and copyright: A history of collective rights management in the music industry
Edited by Véronique Pouillard, Marius Buning and Mala Loth

Manchester University Press (2026)
ISBN: 9781526180148

Published Apr. 8, 2026 11:59 AM - Last modified Apr. 8, 2026 11:59 AM