- How do performance rights work?
"Performance rights" cover the use of sound recordings in broadcasting and public performance.
These rights are usually managed collectively by Music Licensing Companies (‘MLCs’). To enable MLCs to effectively license and manage these rights, record companies (and other entities holding or managing rights in sound recordings) need to register their recordings with the MLCs.
MLCs use the recordings and rights data to match against usage logs, and to pay collected revenues to the right holders whose recordings have been used.
- What is RDx?
RDx stands for Repertoire Data Exchange. It is an international data exchange portal aimed at improving the flow of sound recording metadata between MLCs and right holders around the world.
RDx allows MLCs to populate their databases with more accurate and consistent data, in a more timely and efficient way.
RDx also sends messages about the registration status and any claims conflicts back to rights owners, which helps to improve transparency.
- Who is RDx?
RDx is a joint venture company operated by IFPI and WIN.
The technology design was undertaken by a cross-industry group of record companies and MLCs, in a project coordinated by IFPI and WIN. The group selected PPL UK, among 13 candidates, as the best entity to deliver and operate the technology required for RDx.
- Who is using RDx?
RDx launched in 2020 and is currently being used by all three major record companies (Sony, Universal and Warners), as well as Beggars and BMG. There are currently 7 active MLCs (AGEDI, Gramex Finland, GVL, PPL UK, Re:Sound, SCF and SENA) receiving and processing claims data via RDx, which collectively process data for 14 territories. These MLCs represent 32% of producers’ global performing rights collections (43% excluding the USA).
In addition, 5 further MLCs are currently undertaking testing in the RDx system. Once these MLCs have also on-boarded, the active RDx MLCs will cover 18 territories, representing 37% of producers’ global performing rights collections (49% excluding the USA).
- How does RDx differ from a global repertoire database?
RDx is a message exchange hub. It receives data from record companies and then passes that data on to MLCs.
RDx also returns messages from MLCs to record companies. The returned messages include details about the registration status of the recordings and any claims conflicts.
- How does RDx deal with data quality?
The use of standards and central processing in a hub provides opportunities to check and drive up data quality.
RDx applies extensive data validation checks and notifies the relevant parties with the details of any lapses in their data, so that these can be resolved.
- How does RDx differ from DDEX?
DDEX is an industry consortium that creates standards for use in the overall digital music supply chain. One of the DDEX standards, DDEX RDR, deals specifically with describing in detail the required metadata for managing international performance rights.
RDx puts the DDEX RDR standard into practice as part of its core functionality.
RDx is a message exchange hub where participating entities can send and receive DDEX RDR messages.
- How can I get more information on joining RDx?
More information on RDx is here.
