Ownership of rights to music, including Supertramp songs, is multifaceted and typically divided into several categories of intellectual property. While specific details for all Supertramp compositions and master recordings may vary, Round Hill Music Royalty Fund administers a significant portion of the neighbouring rights income generated from the master recordings of three long-standing members of Supertramp. This arrangement covers 100% of these specific royalties for those members.
Understanding Music Rights
To fully grasp who holds rights to Supertramp's musical output, it's essential to understand the different types of music copyrights:
- Musical Composition Copyright (Publishing Rights): This protects the underlying song itself – the melody, lyrics, and arrangement. These rights are generally owned by the songwriter(s) and administered by music publishers. They generate royalties from sales of sheet music, public performances (e.g., radio, live concerts), streaming, and synchronization in film or TV.
- Sound Recording Copyright (Master Rights): This protects the specific recorded performance of a song. These rights are typically owned by the record label that financed and produced the recording, or by the artists themselves if they self-recorded. Master rights generate royalties from sales of albums (physical and digital), streaming, and licensing for use in various media.
- Neighbouring Rights: These are a distinct type of public performance royalty paid to the sound recording copyright holders (record labels) and featured performers (artists) when a master recording is broadcast or played in public. Unlike performance rights for compositions (which go to songwriters/publishers), neighbouring rights are specifically tied to the public use of the recorded sound itself.
Round Hill Music's Role
Round Hill Music Royalty Fund has entered into a long-term agreement to manage the neighbouring rights income for the master recordings performed by three key members of Supertramp. This means when these specific master recordings are played publicly (e.g., on radio stations, in venues, or via certain streaming services), Round Hill Music handles the collection and administration of the royalties due to these musicians as performers and stakeholders in the sound recordings.
This arrangement highlights how different aspects of a song's rights can be managed by various entities. While Round Hill Music administers the neighbouring rights for certain Supertramp master recordings, the ownership of the original musical compositions (lyrics and melodies) and the broader master recording copyrights for the entire Supertramp catalogue would typically reside with the songwriters, their respective publishers, and the record labels (such as A&M Records, which released much of Supertramp's iconic work) that produced and distributed their albums.
Summary of Rights Management:
| Right Type | Primary Holders (General) | Example Revenue Streams | Supertramp Context (Known) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Musical Composition | Songwriters & Music Publishers | Public performance (radio, live), mechanical, sync | Varies by song; held by songwriters (e.g., Rick Davies, Roger Hodgson) and their publishers. |
| Sound Recording (Master) | Record Labels & Recording Artists | Album sales, digital downloads, streaming | Primarily record labels (e.g., A&M Records) or artists; generates master use royalties. |
| Neighbouring Rights | Sound Recording Copyright Holders & Performers | Public broadcast (radio, TV), public performance of recordings | Round Hill Music Royalty Fund administers 100% of neighbouring rights income for master recordings of three long-standing Supertramp members. |
Understanding these distinctions helps clarify the complex web of ownership and administration within the music industry for iconic bands like Supertramp.
