The quest for a solid music identification technology solution for clubs has been upped following Germanys entrance to the front following Pioneer who released early details December last year of their ‘black box’ that aims to legitimise the current system of who gets paid what royalties depending on a tracks performance.

Berlin music tech developer Future Audio Workshop has kickstarted ‘GTI’, simply put – Geo Track ID, a system that ‘fingerprints’ music and stores the data for organisations like Germanys rights organisation GEMA that helps channel the revenue to the rightful creators.

When installed the box loops into the clubs sound-system and constantly analyses music being played that when captured is sent back to an encrypted, secure and private database that can detect if a tracks been pitched up or down. GTI’s music library is pulled mainly from dance and electronic online retailer Juno who’s catalog lists a deep archive including many vinyl only releases

This isn’t to say the system couldn’t be rolled out elsewhere including Australia who’s current system is fairly archaic and is based on votes by selected peers versus actual number of spins in a club to gauge its popularity which has in the past and thought to be today, somewhat bias and unfair (boys club).

Berlin’s Prince Charles club is the first to road test the “compact, robust, tamper-resistant, low-cost” box with club booker Norman Methner outlining “We from Prince Charles are happy to be the first ones to set up the GTI box,” adding, “and that the effort that’s been put in this little box will hopefully get a more fair share of money to the people who actually produce the music that we like to listen to in our and many other clubs.”

Anything, especially technology that pushes forward the fairness and rights of music creators and can then earn them a living from it is something we want to get behind. Updates to come!

source: Resident Advisor