What is a CMO?

CMO stands for Collective Management Organization.

CMOs act as intermediaries between song rights holders and businesses that use copyrighted music commercially. They collect royalties from public venues — such as bars, restaurants, shops, sports centers, and hotels — that play background music. CMOs may also take legal action against copyright violations.

Examples of CMOs include: ZAiKS and STOART in Poland, GEMA in Germany, OneMusic in Australia, PRS for Music in the UK, and SACEM in France.