MUMBAI: Music publishing companies should strive towards international co-operation and transparency in the digital age of music, Publishing Performing Rights Society (PRS) chairman, Guy Fletcher said during his keynote speech on day 2 of the fourth edition of Radioandmusic.com’s Nokia Music Connects in Mumbai.

The commercial momentum brought about by the internet exemplified by one billion premium videos uploaded every year on YouTube in the UK and the 600 million hits garnered by South Korean pop sensation Psy for his ‘Gangnam Style’- needed to be managed and consolidated. Fragmentation would lead to the publishers’ rights suffering,” pointed out Fletcher.

He opined that in an age where an artist could make music on his laptop without the need for a studio, and where consumer cultures were completely ‘insane’, there was a need to sensibly manage the music industry in order to protect the rights, talents and livelihood of thousands of songwriters whose work could be devalued.

Sharing the PRS perspective, Fletcher said, “We need to harmonize international copyrights in the digital age of music that is a fascinating chaos. Against the Internet giant, we are relatively small but the PRS experience in Europe (market) based on co-operation, alliances and transparency is beginning to have impact.”

“India is providing opportunities for PRS with its recording side exploding with new sounds, talents which present extraordinarily exciting opportunities in international music. With its new Copyright amendment, India can learn from the international markets. If the Indian music industry does it right, the future will be fantastic and rewarding,” added Fletcher.