Established in October 2007, RightsFlow was co-founded by Patrick Sullivan, a leading authority in the field of intellectual property and copyright management, and Ben Cockerham, a composer and musician experienced in international rights issues. Guided by their passion for music and their deep knowledge of the industry, Sullivan and Cockerham recognized early on that businesses needed an accurate and reliable way to manage copyright compliance and royalty payment issues in a digital environment. RightsFlow was launched with the knowledge that technology not only had a role in changing how music was distributed but also in how it could simplify licensing and royalty payment in a new era of music use.

Today, RightsFlow is a leading technology-enabled provider of a mechanical licensing and royalty payment technology platform for online music services, record companies, distributors and artists. The company has been at the forefront of solving the complex issues of copyright compliance and royalty payment as new methods of consuming music have emerged. RightsFlow specializes in obtaining bulk physical, DPD, and ringtone licenses including streaming, tethered, and limited download rights. Our proprietary “FLOW” system and 30-million song database allow us to license, account, and pay royalties on behalf of clients quickly and accurately while ensuring that rights-holders are paid for the use of their work.

RightsFlow recognizes the need for accurate and transparent copyright information in today’s marketplace. We understand that the future growth of new businesses in a digital era will be supported by a rights management system that not only reduces costs and complexity but that also shares information transparently with both publishers and songwriters and those distributors, labels and artists seeking licenses. RightsFlow’s strong ties and credibility throughout the music community make it possible to begin a new era of exchanging and accessing information. The RightsFlow technology expertise not only powers rapid song identification but also manages an ever-growing database of mechanical licensing and music use information that forges a vital connection between creators and distributors.

RightsFlow operates globally and works with a number of international clients to help them navigate complex U.S. copyright obligations. In many cases, European labels are making their products digitally available in the U.S. for the first time and are unsure how to properly license and pay U.S. rights holders for compositions. RightsFlow has helped to facilitate the identification of U.S. sub-publishers of these compositions, making sure licenses are properly obtained and that rights holders, who may not have ever been aware of the royalties due to them, are paid for their work.

RightsFlow Today

RightsFlow is a leading technology-enabled licensing and royalty service provider for artists, record labels, distributors, and online music companies. Our technology powers rapid song identification and provides an unprecedented level of transparency for both licensees and licensors.  RightsFlow specializes in obtaining bulk physical, DPD, and ringtone licenses including streaming, tethered, and limited download rights. Our proprietary “FLOW” licensing technology and 30-million song database allow us to serve over 16,000 clients obtaining licenses from publishers and songwriters all over the world – including major, independent and artist controlled works.

RightsFlow also powers:

• Limelight (www.songclearance.com), its online mechanical licensing utility providing the simplest way for musicians, bands, choirs and labels to clear any cover song.
• MySpark Copyright (www.mysparkcopyright.com), the right way to register and protect your intellectual property; simplifying copyright registration for content owners and creators.

Clients include YouTube, Rhapsody, Muzak, Clear Channel, The Orchard, INgrooves, Wolfgang’s Vault, Copyright Clearance Center, Christian Copyright Solutions, Guvera, Dada Entertainment/Play.ME, Scattertunes, Alliance, Kontor New Media, Zynga, Beatport, Zebralution, E1 Canada, CD Baby, Disc Makers, Qello, IRIS, REBEAT, & X5 Music Group.

RightsFlow is a member of AIM, A2IM, ASCAP, Chorus America, DDEX, DiMA, MEIEA, MENC, NAB, NAMM, and NARM.

RightsFlow is headquartered in NYC and has offices in San Francisco and Atlanta.