Talking of more transparency in music publishing, which we sort of were, publisher Kobalt used MIDEM to launch what it calls the Next Generation Portal 3.0, and which, the publisher says, is the most transparent online rights administration system yet. So transparent, I'm sure it's actually see-through, you know, like the iMacs of 2001.

The system gives rights holders whose rights are administrated by Kobalt access to up to date and detailed information about their income.

Kobalt boss Willard Ahdritz says: "We're taking transparency to the next level, deeper into different royalty streams. Offering the best digital collection platform available, our new and improved 3.0 digital system, which is in final stages of testing, is slated to launch this summer for Kobalt clients worldwide".