About

AEPO-ARTIS is a non-profit making organisation that represents collective management organisations of performers’ neighbouring rights. Our 39 members are active in 29 different countries and represent more than 650.000 performers active in the music and audiovisual sector.

As the paramount voice of performers’ collective management organisations in Europe, the main objectives of AEPO-ARTIS are to develop, strengthen and protect performers’ rights as well as to highlight the contribution that performers make to Europe’s rich and diverse cultural sector.

In addition, AEPO-ARTIS seeks to stress the benefits and importance of the collective administration of performers’ rights.

Further aims include facilitating collaboration between European performers’ organizations and continuing to develop cooperation on European and international agreements, with a special interest in clauses relating to performers’ rights and collecting practices.

Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Actors, musicians, dancers and other performers have rights that in theory allow them to control the use of their performances.

These are called neighbouring rights or related rights and are comparable (but not similar) to copyright. In today’s fast-moving streaming society, absolute control is however no longer feasible.

The essence of protection by these rights therefore lies more than ever with guaranteeing the right to be remunerated, rather than the right to control.

We believe that performers should be fairly remunerated for their work. Therefore AEPO-ARTIS works, both directly and via its members, to promote policies that allow performers to fully enjoy their neighbouring rights and to entrust their collective management organisation with their efficient administration.

As a former performer, Ioan has first-hand experience with neighbouring rights' role in any artistic practice. Having worked as Legal & Policy Advisor for one of our members, he has solid experience in explaining to artists and policymakers what neighbouring rights are and what collective management can do for performers.

Ioan Kaes

General-Secretary

With a passion for music and film and a strong legal background, Nick has found an ideal job that combines the two. With more than a decade of experience in all aspects of performers’ rights, he continues to enjoy working to improve those rights for all performers across Europe.

Nick Yule

Head of Legal

Bringing together 39 organisations active in 29 countries can sometimes be a real challenge. However, with almost 22 years of experience with the organisation, the cultural and linguistic differences between our members have no more secrets for Karin. She speaks too many languages, knows who’s who, who’s new, and makes sure our community is an inclusive one.

Karin Petrickova

Office Manager

Iva joined the AEPO-ARTIS office in 2022, but can hardly be called a junior. She has an outstanding track record in developing public relations for different kinds of stakeholders, which has proven to be helpful in bringing out one of the most difficult stories to tell: that of the collective management of neighbouring rights.

Iva Galovic

Communications and Social Media Manager

As one of the greatest advocates for better collaboration between performers' organizations, Xavier stood at the cradle of this organization. His years of experience in defending the interests of performers in the European and international arena are of indispensable value to our members and their performers.

Xavier Blanc

Legal & Policy Consultant

Tilo Gerlach

President

GVL

Patricia Riera-Barsallo

AISGE

Pál Tomori

Vice-President

EJI

José Luis Sevillano

AIE

Tayyiba Nasser

BECS

CHRISTOPHE VAN VAERENBERGH

PLAYRIGHT

Gregor Štibernik

AIPA

ELIZABETH LE HOT

ADAMI

Stefan Lagrell

SAMI

Our 39 members are spread over 29 different countries and represent more than 650.000 performers active in the music and audiovisual sector.

The members of AEPO-ARTIS are among the most experienced organisations in Europe working in the area of performers’ rights and the collective management of these rights.

We Defend Performers' Rights

OUR MISSION

WHAT ARE PERFORMERS’ RIGHTS?