What service does HMS perform for Members?
It would be impossible for individual composers, authors or publishers of music to monitor the use of their works, issue licences and collect royalties from broadcast and from public performances of their music across St. Lucia and the rest of the world. Therefore the basic role of HMS is to: (a) grant licences to music users (radio and television stations, restaurants, bars, hotels, DJ’s, etc.) for the public performance of music in St. Lucia; (b) collect licence fees or royalties; and (c) distribute royalties to its members and foreign copyright owners whose works HMS also control through reciprocal agreements. HMS administers the performing right in musical works through an assignment of these rights by the original owners (its members who are also the creators). There are three components in the administration of these rights by HMS: the Creator, the User and HMS. The CREATOR holds the original rights in his creation and is entitled to be compensated for the use of his creation. Th
