At the Matching Engine Symposium in Dublin, leaders from across the music rights ecosystem came together to discuss how technology is helping Collective Management Organisations modernise royalty processing, improve metadata management, and deliver greater value to music creators.  

Hosted by Matching Engine CEO, John Corley, the discussion featured Jennifer Brown, CEO of SOCAN, and Karl Vestli, CEO of TONO, who shared their organisations' experiences of digital transformation and the impact of adopting scalable technology platforms.

Better systems, better outcomes for creators 

For SOCAN, technology plays a critical role in ensuring members receive accurate, transparent information about their works and royalties.

Jennifer Brown highlighted the importance of having a flexible system that can adapt to the complexities of rights management while improving the experience for members.

Brown explained that the platform enables SOCAN to manage its repertoire more effectively while providing greater transparency across the entire royalty distribution process.

“Everything that flows from there, all the matching, all the payments, that is such an important element for us.”

Jennifer Brown

CEO, SOCAN 

As music consumption continues to grow across digital platforms, creators increasingly expect real-time access to information that helps them manage their careers. Brown shared a recent example from Canada's Juno Awards, where an artist personally thanked SOCAN for the data and insights available through its member portal. The feedback reinforced the value of empowering creators with accurate, accessible information that helps them understand and manage their business more effectively.

Technology transformation at TONO

Karl Vestli shared how technology modernisation has become a strategic priority for TONO. Several years ago, the organisation embarked on a significant transformation programme aimed at updating its core systems and preparing for future growth.

According to Vestli, Matching Engine has played a central role in that journey.

Now in production, TONO is beginning to realise the benefits of its investment, including more efficient processes and stronger foundations for future innovation.

Vestli also emphasised the value of collaboration within the collective management community. Events like the Matching Engine Symposium create opportunities for organisations to learn from one another's experiences and share best practices.

As rights management becomes increasingly complex, those industry connections are helping organisations navigate common challenges and accelerate their transformation efforts.