Database ‘listed Abba singer as a vocalist on Daniel O’Donnell song’, High Court hears
A record companies organisation has denied breaching the rights of Irish performers in its operation of a music royalties system. Phonographic Performance (Ireland) Ltd (PPI) faces the allegation in a High Court action brought against it by Recorded Artists Actors Performers Ltd (RAAP). The artists’ organisation has claimed that of about €13.8 million collected in performance fees from Irish businesses and broadcasters paying licensing fees in 2024, about €2.9 million was returned to performers. PPI denies any breach of rights and has advanced a counterclaim, including a claim RAAP owes it money. Opening PPI’s defence on Wednesday, Paul Gallagher outlined his client’s reasoning in 2016 for appointing UK-based Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL) to manage royalty rights of Irish performers, including concerns with RAAP’s system for identifying artists and paying out royalties. Lawyers for RAAP have previously said PPI engaged in an “egregious breach” of performers rights when it “purported to…