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Early in 2020, songwriters, composers and performers started sharing how little they got from streaming using the hashtag #BrokenRecord.

The Ivors Academy and Musicians’ Union started campaigning for a Government review - and almost 18,000 of you backed the call.

Press picked it up, including the Guardian, Pitchfork, Wired, and BBC Radio 5 Live. Catch up with #BrokenRecord founder Tom Gray and MU Deputy General Secretary Naomi Pohl speaking to Ed Miliband and Geoff Lloyd on Reasons to be Cheerful.

More people started speaking out. Speaking to the Today programme on BBC Radio 4, Tasmin Little OBE explained how she gets 5 to 6 million streams over six months, with 755,000 monthly listeners, and gets paid just £12.34 for it.

Politicians were listening too. The Labour Party made user centric party policy, and the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select committee called for a Government review, before launching their own in Autumn this year.

Many songwriters, composers, performers and industry organisations sent in written evidence.

Thank you to everyone who gave evidence and emailed in support of the MU submission to the music streaming inquiry. It really does make a difference – your experiences are key to getting action and creating change. The Musicians’ Union and The Ivors Academy will be doing more on this in the New Year, so look out for more opportunities to get involved and be sure your voice is heard.

Naomi
Naomi PohlMU General Secretary

MPs also heard from creators in person, including Nile Rodgers, Tom Gray, Guy Garvey, Nadine Shah and Fiona Bevan. They explained how successful artists and creators are struggling to pay rent, and backed equitable remuneration.  And they made the case for more transparency, user centric, and increasing the value of the song.

Major labels had their say – and showed that they are out of touch with the realities facing artists.

Together, we had a say too as MU General Secretary Horace Trubridge gave evidence on behalf of 31,000 MU members alongside The Ivors Academy CEO Graham Davies in another major milestone for the Fix Streaming campaign.

Our first petition achieved its goal: getting a Government review into streaming. The Music Streaming Inquiry has put the spotlight on the impact of streaming and musicians and songwriters like you, and focused attention on what Government can do to correct this injustice.

Now we’re calling on Government to act. It’s time fix streaming and keep music alive.

Add your voice to the call

Sign the petition calling on Government to put the value of music back where it belongs – in your hands.

#FixStreaming

Take urgent action to fix streaming

Ask your MP to put the value of music back where it belongs – in your hands

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Take urgent action to fix streaming