Robust Royalty Earnings Help ECCO Close Year Strong

As the year ends, the Eastern Caribbean Collective Organisation for Music Rights (ECCO) Inc. is celebrating a remarkable EC$1.3 million royalty distribution. This payout, scheduled for December 4, represents the organization’s second disbursement in 2025 and highlights the growing significance of Caribbean music.Following ECCO’s June disbursement, which slightly exceeded EC$1 million, both distributions indicate a promising upward trajectory in royalties collected within the region, despite the absence of exact figures from the earlier release. Of the EC$1.3 million, 52% is allocated to ECCO members within the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), while the remaining 48% benefits international rights holders through affiliated societies.ECCO’s enhanced strategy and improved data collection from live events have increased the local share, according to CEO Martin A. James, who emphasizes the resilience of the regional music sector. Despite progress, ECCO faces challenges, such as many unregistered musical works that impede proper royalty allocation. Nonetheless, Chairman Bruno Leonce stresses the overwhelming potential of the “orange economy” and the importance of compliance with intellectual property laws for equitable creator compensation.