OUR STORY

Born out of the opacity, inequities and obstructiveness of the current live collective management market, PACE Rights Management was created as a disruptive vehicle to deliver desperately needed transparency and efficiencies for Rightsholders, both Writers and Publishers.. 

The world and music industry has evolved over the last 100+ years, yet the licensing of Users of Live Public Performance Rights (concert promoters, music venues and festivals) and distribution of those license fees to the Rightsholders of the rights used (songwriters, composers and music publishers), has changed little over that time. Despite there being huge dissatisfaction the world over from Rightsholders and their representatives with the existing situation, nobody had come up with a solution, until PACE Rights Management.

PACE Rights Management now assists Rightsholders to take control of their rights, by enabling those Rightsholders to manage their rights individually and Direct License them to Users. The result is they receive more of their money, receive it quicker, and more transparently.

Considered the global leaders and experts on licensing Live Public Performance Rights, PACE started getting calls from stakeholders involved with Streamed Concerts, when the industry turned to online performances due to the Covid pandemic. PACE realised that while there have been recent rapid technological and production advances as the music industry embraces Streamed Concerts, the traditional licensing structure for rights used during a Streamed Concert has remained unchanged, and often misunderstood. As the PRO Licensing Network wasn't structured to enable effective or efficient licensing of rights, licensing fee calculations, collection or distribution of licensing fees, or transparent accounting of license fees, PACE understood that there was a need from both Rightsholders (songwriters, composers, publishers, performers and record companies) and Users (platforms and promoters) for a licensing solution that enabled Platforms and Promoters to license all relevant rights in an efficient and cost effective way, while also ensuring that Writers, Publishing companies, Performers, and Record companies receive appropriate remuneration for the use of their rights, in an efficient, cost effective, timely and transparent way. 

PACE Rights Management now assists both Rightsholders and Users to create a bespoke licensing solution through Direct Licensing and PRO Licensing, that enables Users to obtain licenses for all the rights used, and become compliant with Copyright laws in an efficient and cost effective way that provides both legal and financial peace of mind, and enables Artiste settlements to be concluded with certainty; while simultaneously enabling Rightsholders to receive more of their money, receive it quicker and more transparently.

PAUL CROCKFORD

Paul entered the music business in 1976 as an Entertainments Officer at Southampton University.

He was the youngest NUS Ents Officer of all time, and promoted acts such as ACDC, The Damned, The Adverts, to name but three.

He left university to work as a tour manager and out front sound man, then on to work for Outlaw, (between 1978 and 1987) a major independent concert promoter and management company. During this period Paul also managed Teardrop Explodes, Tears For Fears and Level 42, as well as running the promotions company which staged in excess of 650 shows a year.

In 1987 he set up Crockford Management which continues to the present day. He has managed The Human League, Asia, The Four of Us, The Sixty FT Dolls, Tyrell Corporation, Pete Wylie and currently Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler, The Australian Pink Floyd Show, and Danny Thompson.

Over the last 20 years Paul has also been a consultant for various other projects including Nitro Circus Live (the world’s biggest and best extreme sports show), The Rugby Football Union, Manchester United FC, The Wembley Group of Companies, The Prince’s Trust (Prince Charles’ personal charity) and has often been brought in to consult on entertainment projects across the globe.

He is an active member of the Music Managers Forum and a founder member of the UK Concert Promoters Association.

ADAM ELFIN

Adam has been in the music industry since 1992, and has in-depth experience in many areas of the business. He started his journey managing a friend’s band when he was 18. Having worked on Channel 4’s ‘The Word’, at BBC Radio 1 and MTV, he moved in to A&R at Red Ant Records, and then to Dave Stewart’s publishing company, Anxious Music. Deciding he wanted to concentrate on the live side of the industry, Adam became assistant manager at The Island venues in Ilford, and then the in-house booker/promoter for The Underworld in Camden.

In 1999 Adam decided to move on from working in venues, and instead concentrated on his booking agency First Contact Agency. Over the next 20 years he represented an eclectic roster of artistes spanning black metal to dancehall, and doing so around the world (excluding USA & Canada). His roster included the likes of Nightwish, Akon, Public Enemy, Mr. Big and Presidents Of The USA.

Between 2004-2005 Adam was also Head Of International & Business Development at the DMC World DJ Championships. He has also spent time managing The Fall, Psychic TV, IAMX and the Jungle Brothers. Additionally, he’s delivered bespoke international promo networks for artists via his company Team & Plan.

Adam has spent time on the council of the Music Managers Forum (MMF), and represented the MMF and Agents’ Association on the Arts & Entertainment Taskforce on managed migration with the UK government’s Home Office for 7 years. He also represented the MMF on the UK Music Live Group. Adam has also been on the BRIT Awards Voting Academy.

The only continent he hasn’t done business on is Antarctica, but he’s working on that...