Sarah Osborn, chief executive of the Music Publishers Association (MPA) has called on YouTube to treat independent labels fairly.
The comments follow recent news that YouTube could begin blocking content from independent labels that have not signed up to terms for a new music streaming and subscription service from the platform.
Speaking at the organisation’s AGM held yesterday (24 June) at the Royal Institution in London, Sarah said: ‘If companies such as Google are now acting in the role of cultural gatekeepers, whether by accident or by design, they must bear some responsibility to not act against the interests of the creators upon whose labour large parts of their business are built.’
A number of independent labels have urged the European Commission to take action against YouTube to ensure they negotiate fairly over the terms.
Elsewhere at the MPA’s event, Chris Butler was re-elected as chairman of the MPA during the event.
In his speech, he noted that the music publishing industry contributed over £400m GVA to the UK economy in 2012. He also stated that the MPA fully supported the ongoing development of a Global Repertoire Database, saying that ‘in this digital licensing environment, data management to ensure the efficient administration of rights is crucial’.
Two MPA Gold Badges were also presented to Sally Groves and Peter Barnes, chairman of Pink Floyd Music Publishers Limited. The prizes are awarded for services to music publishing.
View the MPA’s full report from this year's event.
The comments follow recent news that YouTube could begin blocking content from independent labels that have not signed up to terms for a new music streaming and subscription service from the platform.
Speaking at the organisation’s AGM held yesterday (24 June) at the Royal Institution in London, Sarah said: ‘If companies such as Google are now acting in the role of cultural gatekeepers, whether by accident or by design, they must bear some responsibility to not act against the interests of the creators upon whose labour large parts of their business are built.’
A number of independent labels have urged the European Commission to take action against YouTube to ensure they negotiate fairly over the terms.
Elsewhere at the MPA’s event, Chris Butler was re-elected as chairman of the MPA during the event.
In his speech, he noted that the music publishing industry contributed over £400m GVA to the UK economy in 2012. He also stated that the MPA fully supported the ongoing development of a Global Repertoire Database, saying that ‘in this digital licensing environment, data management to ensure the efficient administration of rights is crucial’.
Two MPA Gold Badges were also presented to Sally Groves and Peter Barnes, chairman of Pink Floyd Music Publishers Limited. The prizes are awarded for services to music publishing.
View the MPA’s full report from this year's event.
