The Music Producers Guild (MPG) is backing the International Artist Organisation (IAO) campaign to ensure artists’ rights are protected in the digital music market.
The IAO, which represents over 15,000 artists in 10 European countries, recently warned the European Commission (EC) that fixing the online ‘value gap’ in favour of major record labels would not in isolation solve the problems in the digital music economy.
Earlier this month, the IFPI told the EC that current so-called safe harbour provisions are used by internet giants such as YouTube to avoid paying rightsholders fairly and the situation must be addressed.
Its open letter was signed by more than a thousand big-name artists including Ed Sheeran, Coldplay and Sir Paul McCartney.
The IAO has since said that although it is happy to back the IFPI’s campaign, it feels it doesn’t go far enough to fix the long term problems that are holding the digital music industry back.
The IAO went on to say that issues around transparency, a fair share of value, duty of care and the evolution of remuneration rights fit for the digital age sit at the heart of its own campaign – which the MPG ix explicitly supporting.
Bruno Ellingham, MPG executive director, said: ‘We thoroughly support the IAO’s call for a level digital playing field.
‘Everyone involved in the music industry now operates in a world of value share business models as opposed to the old order where we bought and sold physical products.
‘Trust alone is not enough to ensure that the digital world is fair for everyone. We also need legislation that recognises the rights of music creators and ensures they are properly remunerated so that they can build sustainable, long term careers.’
MPG backing comes days after Europe’s creative sector united to sign another open letter to the EU president Jean-Claude Juncker asking him to change legislation governing online content - just two weeks after the IFPI did the same.
Related:
More rightsholders pile pressure on EU to curb YouTube
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The IAO, which represents over 15,000 artists in 10 European countries, recently warned the European Commission (EC) that fixing the online ‘value gap’ in favour of major record labels would not in isolation solve the problems in the digital music economy.
Earlier this month, the IFPI told the EC that current so-called safe harbour provisions are used by internet giants such as YouTube to avoid paying rightsholders fairly and the situation must be addressed.
Its open letter was signed by more than a thousand big-name artists including Ed Sheeran, Coldplay and Sir Paul McCartney.
The IAO has since said that although it is happy to back the IFPI’s campaign, it feels it doesn’t go far enough to fix the long term problems that are holding the digital music industry back.
The IAO went on to say that issues around transparency, a fair share of value, duty of care and the evolution of remuneration rights fit for the digital age sit at the heart of its own campaign – which the MPG ix explicitly supporting.
Bruno Ellingham, MPG executive director, said: ‘We thoroughly support the IAO’s call for a level digital playing field.
‘Everyone involved in the music industry now operates in a world of value share business models as opposed to the old order where we bought and sold physical products.
‘Trust alone is not enough to ensure that the digital world is fair for everyone. We also need legislation that recognises the rights of music creators and ensures they are properly remunerated so that they can build sustainable, long term careers.’
MPG backing comes days after Europe’s creative sector united to sign another open letter to the EU president Jean-Claude Juncker asking him to change legislation governing online content - just two weeks after the IFPI did the same.
Related:
More rightsholders pile pressure on EU to curb YouTube
Music business must unite to push government for best Brexit deal
PRS for Music chief exec: ‘We cannot live in a broken digital market’
