Copyright Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers

COSCAP (Copyright Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Incorporated) is the non-profit collective management organisation for Barbados, representing over 2,500 local songwriters, composers, music publishers, performers, and producers of sound recordings. Founded in 1997 and formally registered in 1998, it administers performing rights, reproduction rights, and related rights across all music genres. It is best suited for Barbadian and Caribbean music creators who need a local society to license their works and collect royalties from domestic and international use.

How COSCAP Works

COSCAP operates as a multi-right CMO. It licenses businesses that play music publicly in Barbados, including radio stations, television broadcasters, streaming platforms, bars, restaurants, retail stores, hotels, and concert promoters. License fees are collected and distributed to members based on usage data from airplay logs, streaming reports, and live performance set lists.

COSCAP also manages reproduction rights (mechanical royalties) for its members. In January 2024, COSCAP signed a partnership with CMRRA (Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency) and SX Works Global Publisher Services to handle mechanical licensing of its members' works in the Canadian market. This deal gives Barbadian creators access to mechanical royalty collection in Canada without needing separate arrangements.

Internationally, COSCAP has reciprocal agreements with over 50 sister societies worldwide. When a Barbadian songwriter's music is played in the UK, PRS for Music collects those royalties and remits them to COSCAP. The same works in reverse: COSCAP collects on behalf of international societies whose music is played in Barbados.

COSCAP is a provisional member of CISAC (International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers), having joined in 1999. It is also a member of the Association of Caribbean Copyright Societies (ACCS) alongside COTT (Trinidad and Tobago), JACAP (Jamaica), and ECCO (Eastern Caribbean).

In October 2025, the Barbados Parliament passed the Copyright Bill 2025, which for the first time formally grants COSCAP legal standing to bring infringement actions on behalf of its members. Under the previous 1998 Copyright Act, COSCAP's hands were tied because the legislation did not give licensing bodies locus standi (legal standing) before the courts. CEO Dr. Erica Smith hailed the reform as a breakthrough that will allow the society to enforce members' rights more effectively.

Membership is free for creators. COSCAP charges an administrative commission on royalties collected, with rates determined by the membership.

Real-World Example

A Barbadian soca songwriter registers 15 songs with COSCAP. A local radio station in Bridgetown plays 6 of those songs during Carnival season, and a hotel in St. Lawrence Gap holds a blanket license covering background music. Spotify reports 80,000 streams of 10 songs from Barbadian users.

COSCAP collects royalties from all three sources. The radio station's blanket license fee is distributed based on airplay logs. The hotel's fee is distributed based on reported usage. Streaming royalties are distributed based on digital reports from the platform. If the same songs get airplay in the UK, PRS for Music collects those royalties and remits them to COSCAP, which then pays the songwriter in the next distribution cycle.

A songwriter with regular local airplay and moderate streaming numbers might earn anywhere from $500 to $5,000 BBD annually in performance royalties through COSCAP, depending on the frequency and type of use.

Drawbacks / Things to Consider

COSCAP operates in a small market. Barbados has a population of approximately 287,000, which means domestic royalty collections are modest compared to larger societies like ASCAP or PRS. International royalties depend on reciprocal agreements and the speed at which foreign societies report and remit.

CEO Dr. Erica Smith has publicly noted that the Caribbean region faces systemic challenges: high resistance to paying for copyright licenses, widespread use of verbal agreements instead of written contracts, and limited understanding of copyright management among local creators. These factors can delay or reduce royalty collections.

Until the 2025 Copyright Bill, COSCAP had limited enforcement power. While the new law strengthens its position, enforcement capacity in a small jurisdiction remains a practical challenge.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are a Barbadian songwriter, composer, or publisher, COSCAP membership is the only practical way to collect performance and mechanical royalties for your works in Barbados and internationally. Without it, you would need to individually license every radio station, venue, and streaming platform that plays your music.

Register every composition with COSCAP as soon as it is commercially released. Unregistered works earn zero royalties, even if they receive thousands of plays. Include correct split shares and ISRC codes so your works can be matched to usage data.

If your music is played internationally, COSCAP's 50+ reciprocal agreements mean foreign societies collect on your behalf. You can also submit performance reports directly to flag specific usage. For non-Barbadian artists, your home PRO collects from COSCAP through these same reciprocal agreements when your music is played in Barbados.

Related Resources

• Performing Rights Organizations (PRO) - What a PRO is and how it functions
• Performance Royalties - How performance royalties are generated and collected
• Mechanical Royalties - Understanding the difference between performance and mechanical royalties
• PRO Comparison Guide - Detailed comparison of PROs worldwide
• COSCAP Official Website - Visit COSCAP for membership and licensing information
• Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your digital earnings