HOW SWEDE IT IS: MAX MARTIN, COUNTRYMEN FORM SONGWRITERS' SUPPORT GROUP

Max Martin and fellow Swedish songwriters Björn Ulvaeus and Niclas Molinder have formed Music Rights Awareness Foundation to help the world's music creators get compensated fairly. The foundation's first project is Music Rights in Africa.

Through education and support, the foundation will work to help music creators take control of their rights and be able to make a living from their music, regardless of economic, geographic or cultural conditions.

“Information and education is obviously always key, and I am hoping Music Rights Awareness, together with others, will help the creative community help themselves in the challenges ahead,” said Martin in the 9/12 announcement.

“In the new, digital world the songwriter is often the weaker part in a negotiation,” Ulvaeus noted. “Knowledge is power, and that’s where Music Rights Awareness comes in.”

“While working together, we realized that there is an ignorance when it comes to rights among both songwriters and the industry,” Molinder said. “We are convinced that many of the legal disputes that are now underway could have been averted, and with Music Rights Awareness we can help the world's musicians at a broader level.”

The three founders are also involved in Auddly, a digital platform that helps music makers keep track of their song projects, collaborate and register their rights.