Read on Twitter
Today's @CommonsDCMS #MusicStreamingInquiry session has started!
It'll be an exciting session with our CEO @grahamidaviesuk, with @WeAreTheMU, @the_MPA, @BPI_Music, @Twitch, @SoundCloud and @YouTube
Follow this thread for live updates!
#FixStreaming and #KeepMusicAlive
It'll be an exciting session with our CEO @grahamidaviesuk, with @WeAreTheMU, @the_MPA, @BPI_Music, @Twitch, @SoundCloud and @YouTube
Follow this thread for live updates!
#FixStreaming and #KeepMusicAlive
. @julianknight15 asked Geoff Taylor of @bpi_music why it is that artists with millions of streams, who win awards and have a big cultural impact are struggling to pay rent.
Geoff said there are more artists than in the past now, and that millions of streams isn't a lot nowadays.
Geoff said there are more artists than in the past now, and that millions of streams isn't a lot nowadays.
. @DamianGreen asked about the song being devalued. @hash_tag_music of @the_MPA said publishers fight hard for songwriters to push that value up. @DamianGreen asked if it should be 50/50 with the recording. We would definitely think that would be fairer.
We need to #FixStreaming
We need to #FixStreaming
. @hash_tag_music of @the_MPA also said we need to tackle certain platforms hiding behind safe harbour provisions. We agree.
The value of the song needs to go up and we need platforms to properly license music.
#FixStreaming and #KeepMusicAlive
The value of the song needs to go up and we need platforms to properly license music.
#FixStreaming and #KeepMusicAlive
Great question from @KevinBrennanMP about the difference in @the_MPA and @IMPForum written submissions.
It appears the indie publishers of @IMPForum have been much more vocal about the plight of songwriters.
We need a clear explanation. #MusicStreamingInquiry
It appears the indie publishers of @IMPForum have been much more vocal about the plight of songwriters.
We need a clear explanation. #MusicStreamingInquiry
Geoff of @bpi_music said to @KevinBrennanMP they don't agree that enough value isn't flowing to creators from streaming.
Our member poll showed 82% of respondents, with thousands and millions of streams, earned less than ÂŁ200 from streaming, across all platforms in 2019.
Our member poll showed 82% of respondents, with thousands and millions of streams, earned less than ÂŁ200 from streaming, across all platforms in 2019.
. @julianknight15 asked @hash_tag_music about the recording taking 4 times as much as publishing, and if he would make the same critique of value lost for songwriters he made re certain DSPs.
We believe there should be parity between publishing and recording. #FixStreaming
We believe there should be parity between publishing and recording. #FixStreaming
Great to hear from @BrineMP in the #MusicStreamingInquiry that @CommonsDCMS are looking to make recommendations around safe harbour in their report. This is a vital issue for music creators.
We need to #FixStreaming and #KeepMusicAlive
We need to #FixStreaming and #KeepMusicAlive
Asked by @BrineMP, Geoff of @bpi_music advocated for a regulator keeping corporations in check, so they don't harm individual music creators.
We would welcome this and extend it to major music groups, so there is oversight of if/how they are acting in their creators' interests.
We would welcome this and extend it to major music groups, so there is oversight of if/how they are acting in their creators' interests.
In response to @HeatherWheeler, Geoff said the more money the label gets, the more goes to artists. Sure, but are there pots of money which are unaccounted for to creators and kept by the major groups?
Creators need #transparency to #FixStreaming
Creators need #transparency to #FixStreaming
Geoff of @bpi_music is right in saying to @JulieElliottMP that responsibility for monitoring piracy and taking down unlicensed music from platforms cannot sit with creators.
Tech platforms need to be liable for hosting unlicensed music.
#FixStreaming and #KeepMusicAlive
Tech platforms need to be liable for hosting unlicensed music.
#FixStreaming and #KeepMusicAlive
. @julianknight15 asked @bpi_music if there should be a CMA investigation into music streaming to see if competition issues are inhibiting due value getting to musicians from streaming.
Geoff said economic harms to creators should be investigated, but it's a competitive market
Geoff said economic harms to creators should be investigated, but it's a competitive market
Now we hear from our CEO @grahamidaviesuk and @WeAreTheMU's General Secretary Horace Trubridge on why we need #FixStreaming and #KeepMusicAlive
#MusicStreamingInquiry
#MusicStreamingInquiry
. @grahamidaviesuk explained how the promotion and investment activities now largely sit with the creators, and how industry mechanics have suppressed the value of the song.
#MusicStreamingInquiry
#MusicStreamingInquiry
"Whatever money comes into the industry, if it doesn't go into creators' pockets, what is the point?" says our CEO @grahamidaviesuk
He explained to @DamianHinds that this is why we focus on how the industry payout is divided and not just on getting more money to the industry
He explained to @DamianHinds that this is why we focus on how the industry payout is divided and not just on getting more money to the industry
Our CEO @grahamidaviesuk said "streaming is a song economy, listening is based on songs and not as much albums"
This shows just how much of an impact the composition has. The song is undervalued in streaming.
We need to #FixStreaming
This shows just how much of an impact the composition has. The song is undervalued in streaming.
We need to #FixStreaming
"Creators are missing millions from streaming" said our CEO @grahamidaviesuk
He said the value gap between what @YouTube pays and other DSPs is causing "parasitic growth" of certain players.
#MusicStreamingInquiry
He said the value gap between what @YouTube pays and other DSPs is causing "parasitic growth" of certain players.
#MusicStreamingInquiry
Horace Trubridge of @WeAreTheMU said they fully want to cooperate with majors on combatting safe harbour, but it would be great if they cooperated by saying they will give artists and writers a greater and fairer share of revenues.
Well said. #FixStreaming
Well said. #FixStreaming
. @MrJohnNicolson asked our CEO @grahamidaviesuk who is suffering most from the current system and Graham said "the creators".
Explaining how royalty splits work, he said "it's becoming a more and more precarious career to undertake"
#MusicStreamingInquiry #FixStreaming
Explaining how royalty splits work, he said "it's becoming a more and more precarious career to undertake"
#MusicStreamingInquiry #FixStreaming
. @grahamidaviesuk told @JulieElliottMP how major music group conflicts are preventing the song from being valued properly, bc majors have a publishing and recording arm.
We need a legally enforceable code of conduct for majors so they are held to their fiduciary duty to creators
We need a legally enforceable code of conduct for majors so they are held to their fiduciary duty to creators
Horace Trubridge of @WeAreTheMU is right to make the case for music companies needing to be held to due diligence in tracking down creators on legacy contracts.
CMOs are subject to CRM Directive.
We want the majors to be held to similar regulation.
CMOs are subject to CRM Directive.
We want the majors to be held to similar regulation.
. @grahamidaviesuk points to progressive business models like @BMG's to show that rebalancing of recording and publishing is possible and profits can be shared with creators
@JulieElliottMP is absolutely right to say "the money is clearly there, it's just not being shared around"
@JulieElliottMP is absolutely right to say "the money is clearly there, it's just not being shared around"
"Bearing in mind that their companies [major groups] are intertwined, it's very easy to see there is an interest in keeping the value of the song down in favour of the recording side, and it's unfair" - Horace of @WeAreTheMU
We need to #FixStreaming
We need to #FixStreaming
Horace Trubridge makes a good case about there being fewer and fewer opportunities for underprivileged children who want to make music.
We have relaunched our @IvorsTrust to give opportunities to music creators who need them the most. If you can donate, please get in touch!
We have relaunched our @IvorsTrust to give opportunities to music creators who need them the most. If you can donate, please get in touch!
Our CEO @grahamidaviesuk makes a great point about how our @IvorsTrust is looking to address inequalities and lack of EDI in the industry, but creators need their careers to be viable in the long term and not just not charity.
We need structural reform. Let's #FixStreaming now
We need structural reform. Let's #FixStreaming now
"To what extent are creators pressured into giving away their copyright?" - @grahamidaviesuk
We need to #FixStreaming.
To creators of any genre, please get in touch if you are feeling pressured.
We need to #FixStreaming.
To creators of any genre, please get in touch if you are feeling pressured.
. @KevinBrennanMP asked our CEO @grahamidaviesuk
about black box unallocable royalties and missing data.
Graham said we need better data and more accuracy, and in the meantime black box money should go to good causes.
#MusicStreamingInquiry
about black box unallocable royalties and missing data.
Graham said we need better data and more accuracy, and in the meantime black box money should go to good causes.
#MusicStreamingInquiry
In the #MusicStreamingInquiry @BrineMP asked about artists, particularly bigger ones, who are afraid to speak up.
@grahamidaviesuk said some have, like @PaulMcCartney and @JimmyPage, and he is sure the songwriter community is united in wanting a fairer system.
#FixStreaming
@grahamidaviesuk said some have, like @PaulMcCartney and @JimmyPage, and he is sure the songwriter community is united in wanting a fairer system.
#FixStreaming
. @KevinBrennanMP asked Katherine of @YouTube if safe harbour isn't just a get out of jail free card for tech platforms to not pay for music, as previous witnesses said it suppresses the value of IP.
Katherine said it doesn't, but of course @YouTube would say that!
#FixStreaming
Katherine said it doesn't, but of course @YouTube would say that!
#FixStreaming
. @KevinBrennanMP asked Raoul of @SoundCloud if they are looking at user-centric.
Raoul said it would require industry-wide conversations to be impactful. They pay creators through intermediaries (major music groups, indies, CMOs, distributors...) so these would need to support.
Raoul said it would require industry-wide conversations to be impactful. They pay creators through intermediaries (major music groups, indies, CMOs, distributors...) so these would need to support.
Responding to @AlexDaviesJones in the #MusicStreamingInquiry Katherine from @YouTube said they don't think the value gap even exists.
We know it exists, creators see it regularly in their royalty statements.
We need to #FixStreaming and #KeepMusicAlive
We know it exists, creators see it regularly in their royalty statements.
We need to #FixStreaming and #KeepMusicAlive
Well put @AlexDaviesJones - music creators are struggling to get to the end of the month. It's unclear why they should give their IP away for free in any situation.
There is money in the industry, it's just concentrated in the hands of a few corporations.
There is money in the industry, it's just concentrated in the hands of a few corporations.
Katherine from @YouTube says we need more transparency and music data. She says for a 90-sec song they often have multiple creators to pay.
This is true, we advocate for minimum data standards, but still @YouTube have the resources to pay properly and they should.
#FixStreaming
This is true, we advocate for minimum data standards, but still @YouTube have the resources to pay properly and they should.
#FixStreaming
Raoul from @SoundCloud told @MrJohnNicolson we need to fix the challenges around data for songwriters.
We agree, we need a Minimum Viable Data Standard for music recordings. Basic metadata on the underlying composition must be required when data is provided by labels to DSPs.
We agree, we need a Minimum Viable Data Standard for music recordings. Basic metadata on the underlying composition must be required when data is provided by labels to DSPs.
If @YouTube want to be "the best partners possible to the music industry" why are they opposing safe harbour provisions which would directly benefit the music industry?
@julianknight15 rightly responded asking why @YouTube pay creators so much less than other streaming platforms
@julianknight15 rightly responded asking why @YouTube pay creators so much less than other streaming platforms
. @julianknight15 to @YouTube "You are so big and making such huge profits that you are damping down an entire industry...taking huge sums from the creative sectors and having a hand to mouth existence with yourselves. It's true for journalism and it's true for music streaming."
That's all for today's session. We heard a lot of great testimony and would like to thank @CommonsDCMS for inviting @grahamidaviesuk to speak on behalf of our members.
Thank you to everyone who has campaigned with us so far to #FixStreaming! We are feeling hopeful
Thank you to everyone who has campaigned with us so far to #FixStreaming! We are feeling hopeful
