Dean Francis, who has led neighboring rights collections for Downtown since joining the company in 2018 and who previously spent over a decade at U.K.-based neighboring rights collection society PPL.According to a release, the new division is a natural outgrowth of increased client interest in Downtown’s existing neighboring rights capabilities via its publishing division, as well as FUGA, the Netherlands-based B2B music technology and services company it acquired in January via subsidiary AVL Digital Group.
FUGA’s neighboring rights capabilities will be integrated into the new division throughout the rest of the year.Downtown notes that a number of artists have already signed with the division to manage their neighboring rights.
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