Modern collective rights management requires a high-performing IT platform that supports all aspects of a collective rights management organisation’s operations: from member registration and the processing of repertoires and playlists to swift and accurate distributions and payments. That was the ambition behind the development of Rider in 2012 and 2013. We are convinced that we have succeeded in this. For example, a user-friendly portal was developed for members, agents and foreign sister organisations, complemented by a back-office system that ensures the complete management of distributions. Rider has since proven itself to be a particularly robust system and has contributed significantly to the restoration of the collective management of performers’ rights in Belgium. 

Twelve years is an eternity in the world of IT. Although we have continued to invest in Rider throughout those years, the platform has slowly but surely reached the end of its life cycle. Furthermore, new technological possibilities and opportunities have emerged, such as AI. We therefore decided in 2025 to undertake a thorough modernisation, which we will present to you in the course of 2027. At a conference in Amsterdam, Laetitia Batardy had the opportunity to explain this process, sharing not only Rider’s success story but also offering a first glimpse of Rider 2.0. She played a key role in the original development of Rider and is now once again closely involved in the development of Rider 2.0, alongside numerous other members of the PlayRight team. Her appearance as a speaker was a wonderful recognition of the expertise that she and PlayRight have built up over the years.