The Association of Music Right Owners yesterday announced its readiness to enter into agreements to enable it partner with international societies which represent thousands of music creators worldwide.

The association, which has branches in Kumasi, Cape Coast and Takoradi, is a membership organization of more than 1000 composers, songwriters, lyricists, and music publishers of every kind of music throughout the country.

Outlining its plans for this year, the acting chairman of the association, Gyedu Blay Ambolley, told BEATWAVES in an interview that the association has already arranged with certain event promoters and management outfits in Ghana and abroad who will help organize seminars and workshops to upgrade the talent and musical skills of its members.

He noted that AMRO is the only performing rights organization created and controlled by composers, songwriters and music publishers, with a board of directors elected by and from the membership. According to him, the association was established to protect the rights of its members by licensing and distributing royalties for the non-dramatic public performances of their copyrighted works.

AMRO licensees encompass all who want to perform copyrighted music publicly. It makes giving and obtaining permission to perform music simple for both creators and users of music. Gyedu Blay Ambolley said AMRO is home to the greatest names in Ghanaian music, past and present, as well as many song writers.

He said the association represents every kind of music, adding that AMRO's repertory includes pop, rock, alternative, country, R&B, rap, hiphop, hiplife, gospel, as well as many others in the entire musical spectrum. AMRO members are individuals who make their living by writing music.

As a society of composers, songwriters, lyricists and music publishers, “We know very well that there are many steps between creation and compensation; months, if not years, can pass between the creation of a song, its recording, its release, its performance, and the day when the revenues due to the writer actually arrive”, Ambolley stressed.

He disclosed that a music creator is like a small business, and AMRO exists to ensure that music creators are paid promptly when their works are performed publicly. He explained that some of the many other ways in which AMRO can help musicians and composers includes workshops, showcases, their website and publications, and an exclusive tailor-made benefits package that includes health and instrument insurance, a credit union, discounts on musical accessories, travel and much more. AMRO is committed to nurturing music makers throughout their careers.