RIATT Endorses Trinidad & Toabago Association for Producers & Performers (TAPPS)

New Revenue Stream for Producers and Performers

Friday 30th September 2011er 2011

The Recording Industry Association of Trinidad and Tobago (RIATT) fully endorses the establishment of recently formed Related Rights Organization: the Trinidad &Tobago Association for Producers and Performers (TAPPS).

Producers and performers are protected under the laws of Related or Neighboring rights in Trinidad & Tobago. These rights have been overlooked and neglected for decades. Under the laws of Related Rights, performers and owners of sound recordings hold the right to be financially compensated for the broadcast and public performance of their recordings and performances.

What is TAPPS’ function?

TAPPS immediate task will be to execute the undertakings of a collective management organization (CMO) authorized to license and collect license fees for the public performance and broadcasts of Sound Recordings and Performances. The collected fees will be then distributed as royalty payments to its members the Producers (owners of sound recordings) and Performers ( singers and musicians).

What is the difference between The Copyright Music Organization of Trinidad and Tobago (COTT), Awesome Music and TAPPS?

COTT and Awesome Music administer the performing right and reproduction right of songs. They collect royalties for the owners of the copyrighted musical work (the song), i.e. songwriters, composers and music publishers.
(TAPPS) would collect royalties for performers, owners of sound recordings. i.e. singers, musicians, record producers.

TAPPS is the only organization in Trinidad and Tobago with the mandate from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) to execute reciprocal agreements with other international producer and performer rights organizations. In essence TAPPS represents the world’s repertoire of sound recordings.
RIATT would like to encourage all Executive producers, creative producers, singers, musicians of every genre of music in T&T to seek membership in TAPPS to benefit from this new revenue stream available to them.

TAPPS is currently working on setting up its office, land line contact, website and email address.

Look out for more information on this organization, in this space.

For further information contact:
Fabien Alfonso
Email: info@riatt.org
1-868-707-0400