The Eastern Caribbean Collective Organisation for Music Rights (ECCO) Inc. has announced its 2025 royalty distribution of over EC$1.7 million to songwriters, composers, and music publishers across the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
The distribution, scheduled for September 23rd 2026, covers royalties collected for Broadcast, Carnival, General, and Live Events across the region for the period 1st January to 31st December 2025, along with foreign income received from ECCO’s sister societies and the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC).
Of the total allocation, 55% goes directly to ECCO’s members within the OECS, with the remaining 45% paid out to sister societies abroad on behalf of their affiliated members whose works were used within ECCO’s territories.
“Every distribution is a reminder of why this organisation exists,” said Martin A. James, Chief Executive Officer of ECCO. “Behind these numbers are real songwriters and publishers across our region whose works are being recognised and rewarded. We remain committed to strengthening our collection and distribution processes so that more of that value reaches our members.”
Bruno Leonce, Chairman of ECCO’s Board of Directors, echoed that sentiment. “This distribution is proof of what a well-run collective management organisation can achieve for its members,” he said. “The Board is proud of the progress ECCO continues to make, and we remain fully committed to good governance and sound stewardship so that our members can focus on what they do best: creating music.”
Despite these recent achievements in royalty collection, ECCO continues to face significant regional headwinds, most notably persistent non-compliance among commercial music users. Across the OECS, numerous commercial operations, broadcasters, and event organisers continue to exploit intellectual property without obtaining the necessary licences for broadcast, carnival, general, or live event usage. This widespread non-compliance severely impairs royalty revenues and highlights an urgent need for comprehensive legislative reform to modernise copyright laws and streamline enforcement for non-compliant users across member territories.
To safeguard the future of the creative industry, ECCO is calling on governments across the OECS territories to place far greater priority on copyright protection and intellectual property enforcement. National leadership and legislative updates are essential to creating a fair, sustainable music industry where songwriters, composers, and publishers are properly compensated for their creative labour. By prioritising intellectual property rights within regional development agendas, governments can help ensure that the Eastern Caribbean’s rich musical heritage remains economically viable and respected both locally and internationally.
