MSG
Musical Works Owners Group (MSG) is a collective management organization that grants music users the permission and licenses to use the works of its members (composers, lyricists, publishers, arrangers), collects the related royalties, and distributes them to the rights holders.
Founded officially on 26th July 1999 with the approval of the Ministry under decision number 224, MSG protects the rights of its members in the fields of reproduction (mechanical) and performance/broadcasting (performing), and collects the royalties arising from these uses. Users are legally required to obtain an MSG license for the use of a musical work, such as live performances, reproduction on CDs/cassettes, broadcasting through radio, TV, video, or digital use (as per the Law No. 5846 on Intellectual and Artistic Works). The MSG license allows music users to legally access millions of music works both in Turkey and around the world.
Similar collective management organizations like MSG have been operating for many years in almost every country. These organizations have further strengthened their position by forming confederations. Through agreements with other unions, MSG protects the rights of its members' works (ranging from advertising jingles to symphonies, pop and rock to jazz and folk music) worldwide, while also representing the Turkish rights of foreign works to a large extent.
The management and policy of MSG are led by a board of directors, consisting of up to 11 people, including a president and a vice president who are elected every two years. Board members cannot hold professional positions within MSG. Additionally, professional managers of MSG also attend the board meetings.
The core principles of MSG can be summarized as follows:
Accuracy: MSG remains faithful to all the principles that form its foundation.
Mathematical Distribution: MSG operates based on documents and data. Measurements are calculated to the second, and royalties are distributed only to the rights holders specified in the work notification forms.
Global System: MSG maintains close cooperation with other collective management organizations worldwide and utilizes universal methods and standards in its structure.
Corporatism: The management team of MSG, like other global examples, is composed of professionals whose responsibility is strategy and direction setting.
International Reputation: With transparency in management, financial stability, compliance with international rules, corporate ethics, member satisfaction, and social responsibility initiatives, MSG has earned an international reputation.
Music works, which are far ahead of other art forms in terms of their integration with life, have vast usage areas. While protected by laws, MSG is aware that much needs to be done regarding the tracking and collection of royalties arising from the use of music works. With the support and presence of its members, MSG increases its power and establishes trust through its dynamic and effective approach in solving problems.