Introducing the newly launched IPRS MEMBER PORTAL – IT TEAM
Information technology is ubiquitous today. It became apparent during the COVID period where the wheels of commerce ran on the services provided by Information Technology (IT). At IPRS, we also reinvented ourselves with the changing dynamics of music consumption which witnessed a radical shift with the advent of Digital Service Providers. And with it, the role of IT became pervasive since it is impossible to process billions of lines of data manually to identify works of our members and claim them for royalty payout.
The work becomes more challenging since the data in the burgeoning music industry, which has embraced digital-first, is yet to be structured in a fashion to be shared across platforms in a single structure. Organizations like CISAC and DDEX are trying to bring order into the chaotic world, introducing new standards and policies periodically. IPRS had readily adapted to these changing world standards. Keeping with its vision to bring transparency to its members, it has tied up with BackOffice Music services, a globally reputed backend service provider to multiple CMOs, to provide a world-class Members Portal.
IPRS started this journey with a renowned Service provider way back in 2018. However, due to factors outside of IPRS control, the company imploded and could not deliver the promised product and services to IPRS. IPRS lost precious time in the process but quickly reached out to multiple Global vendors to continue the journey. Following a detailed due diligence process, IPRS finally selected Back Office for Music as a Software as a Service (SAAS) provider.
A project of this scale can only be successful basis unconditional Top Management support. The IPRS board led by Chairman Sri Javed Akhtar and CEO Sri Rakesh Nigam reposed full faith in the IPRS team, and the IPRS Team reciprocated by making this project a success within a record time of 90 days. It deserves mention that projects of this complexity are only successful when the entire organization rallies behind the implementation team. Thus we are proud to say that this success is also a mark of how each Department doubled up during the challenging times to make this project happen.
The project with Back-office aims to create a complete Backend for IPRS starting from Members Portal, Membership & Documentation leading to Distribution. The portal is supposed to be a game-changer. The members will have the tools to manage their profile and works. The portal provides full transparency of usage of their work in the various channels of exploitation. In short, the portal will provide greater control and visibility to IPRS members. The member portal will allow the authors, composers, and publishers to transfer from the earlier ‘back-office dependent’ system to a ‘Self-Serve Portal’. It will empower them to handle their personal information, access a list of works, request modifications, submit new registrations, and view a detailed royalty tracking and history of royalty payments at their convenience. We will be making all these benefits available to our members in phases. As our members become familiar with the functionalities available, we will introduce them step by step to the next level. Lead the way to a smooth transition and adoption of the functionalities available from the simplest to the more advanced features.
The Music Industry is plagued with data inconsistencies for historical reasons. All societies across the world try to make their database as authoritative as possible. IPRS recognises its members as owners of the music, and the metadata associated with the music is the best yardstick to measure the quality of the data. In the Members Portal, members can now check their works in the system. And whether the work registered is with correct credentials. IPRS has long faced a challenge wherein we have received sparse data or incomplete data for registration. Now the members shall be able to look up the IPRS repertoire and suggest the changes to IPRS staff to make the necessary modifications. And thus assist in improving the quality of data.
Improved quality of data shall, with almost immediate effect, allow for better monetization for multiple reasons.
- Members can themselves see if any of their work with higher usage is in the IPRS database or not. If found missing, they can register the work with complete metadata at their earliest to avoid loss of revenue.
- Once registered, this will allow IPRS to claim for that work. It would finally benefit the member. Monies collected from popular tracks go back to the member as royalty monies. Thus with better data, the IPRS can claim more from the multiple platforms using the works and finally distribute the revenue arising from the claims to the rightful owners.
