Sony/ATV sets up JV with UK, Euro PROs

PROS WITH NO CONS: Sony/ATV has entered into a new agreement with the U.K.’s PRS for Music and Germany’s GEMA to administer licenses for Sony/ATV and EMI Music Publishing’s pan-European digital rights for Anglo-American repertoire. Got that? Simply stated, the move provides a one-stop shop enabling licensees to access both repertoires, which were consolidated in 2012 with Sony’s acquisition of EMP. SOLAR, as the joint venture is called, will administer a single new license to cover the exploitation of the combined Anglo-American catalogs of the two pubcos. The always-proactive Marty Bandier noted that the agreement is “great news for our songwriters as we look to continue to facilitate licensing in this rapidly evolving and expanding sector.” (9/25a)