User Centric Model Support by Labour Party

We’re delighted that the user centric model of paying out streaming royalties has Labour Party support.

Speaking to Colin Murray on BBC 5 Live, Labour Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Jo Stevens said "The Labour Party position is that we support this. Why should it be any different for musicians than it is for any other professional trade?

"If a musician creates something and it's being used and enjoyed and listened to by people, then through that platform, musicians should be paid for their work," she added.

This follows political lobbying by the MU and grassroots activism by the Broken Record movement led by Tom Gray.

Tom also appeared on the show to talk about streaming, copyright and fair royalties for musicians. Catch up on BBC iPlayer.

Where user centric fits in

In a joint opinion piece, MU Deputy General Secretary Naomi Pohl and Ivors Academy Chair Crispin Hunt look at how user centric can be part of the solution;

"User-centric means that a subscriber’s £10 per month would be paid out on the music they personally streamed.

“At the moment, it is perhaps not well understood by music fans that the money they pay doesn’t go to the music they listen to.

“In fact, as much as 70% could go to the owners of rights in music they never listened to, and this is after the platform have taken their share (around £3 per user)"

Read more from Naomi and Crispin.

Add your voice to the #FixStreaming call

The MU in partnership with the Ivors Academy is calling on Government to review the streaming model.

Sign the #FixStreaming petition now.

Once you've signed, share on social media to help spread the word. Not sure what to say? Here's something to get you started:

"Help us get to 14,000 signatures to #FixStreaming and keep music alive. Please sign this petition https://www.change.org/p/the-rt-hon-oliver-dowden-cbe-mp-secretary-of-state-for-digital-culture-media-and-sport-it-s-time-to-fixstreaming"