Introduction
Véronique Pouillard, Marius Buning, and Mala Loth

1. The drama of music: performance rights in the wake of industrial liberalisation, Paris 1851–1898
Anna Marie Skråmestø Nesheim

2. Confederation or corporation? Ideological and organisational visions in CISAC’s ‘Mechanical Rights Federation’ 1933–1939
Johan Larson Lindal

3 The politicization of copyright on the international stage: Fascist Italy and the foundation of CISAC
Malte Zill
4. Genealogies of copyright tariffs
Jose Bellido and Fiona Macmillan

5. The colonial expansion of the Belgian collective management society SABAM and music copyright in Congo, Rwanda and Burundi (1950s–1960s)
Véronique Pouillard

6. Collecting the traditional Kabyle music of Algeria in decolonisation time: Taos Amrouche, Yvette Grimaud and UNESCO (1950s–1960s)
Minja Mitrovic and Véronique Pouillard

7. Licensing conflicts: bureaucracy and bickering in the GEMA ‘family’, 1949–1962
Klaus Nathaus

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

9. Performer’s Rights – A child of technology and a stepchild of copyright
Irina Eidsvoll-Tøien

Musicians and copyright explores the evolution of collective management organisations (CMOs) from the nineteenth century to the present day, shedding light on their central role in securing copyright revenues for artists and the broader music industry. It examines how CMOs have influenced copyright law and on cultural production across different times and places.

Through detailed historical analysis, the volume traces how these organisations responded to major developments – from colonial contexts and European integration to the rise of digital technologies. It highlights key issues such as membership policies, classification systems, language barriers and practices of registration and distribution. Through this lens, the book examines how CMOs have managed internal tensions while also confronting external pressures from changing regulations, market shifts and technological innovation.


By examining the institutional infrastructure and social dynamics of CMOs, Musicians and copyright offers new insights into how these organisations have shaped not only the distribution of copyright revenues but also the accessibility and circulation of music itself. A vital resource for scholars of music, intellectual property and the cultural industries, this book provides a deeper understanding of the institutions that continue to influence musical creation and access across the globe.