#FixStreaming

It's Time to Fix Streaming

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

80%* of musicians and music creators who earn less than £200 a year from streaming*

92%* tell us that less than 5% of their earnings came from streaming*

£150m* estimated earnings of Universal head Lucian Grainge in 2021**

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* Source: *A poll by The Ivors Academy and Musicians’ Union 2020 **The Guardian

We can fix music streaming

Latest news

Close up of sound engineer recording a live orchestra.

Musicians in Orchestras Across UK Urgently Call on Government to Address Lack of Streaming Royalties

The MU and players in over 20 orchestras across the UK have signed an open letter to call upon the Government to urgently address the lack of streaming royalties for musicians.

Published: 04 April 2025

A young, Black female musician, playing electric guitar in a recording studio.

Fix Streaming: Making the Case for Session Players

How can the music industry fix streaming for session players and ensure that all artists get fair pay from music streaming? Musicians’ Union (MU) General Secretary Naomi Pohl explains...

Published: 28 March 2025

London cityscape with Houses of Parliament and Big Ben tower at sunset.

MU Lobbying Update: How We’re Representing Members in Parliament

The MU’s Head of Communications and Government Relations, Isabelle Gutierrez, reports on a busy month of highlighting musicians’ issues in parliament, with updates relating to streaming, music education, and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Published: 20 February 2025

MPs and representatives from the CMM, sat along a table for dinner at Parliament, to discuss the Fix Streaming campaign.

MPs Support Musicians and Music Creators at Event in Parliament

It comes at a crucial point in Creator Remuneration Working Group negotiations to fix streaming and get a better deal for musicians and music creators.

Published: 13 February 2025

Three vocalists in a recording studio singing into a microphone.

Music Streaming: What Does a Fair Deal for Musicians Look Like?

How are musicians paid for music streaming and what could a fair deal look like? MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl explains...

Published: 11 February 2025

Getting artists back on their feet

Why does Lily Allen earn more from selling foot pics on OnlyFans than 8 million monthly listeners on Spotify? MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl breaks it down.

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Photo of Lily Allen performing on stage.

From around the web

The Telegraph

"Paul McCartney and Chris Martin lead 150 artists demanding reform to music streaming laws"

The Guardian

“I can't pay the rent on unfair music streaming revenues”

Mercury Prize-nominated singer-songwriter Nadine Shah in the Guardian.

Pitchfork

How Musicians are Fighting for Streaming Pay During the Pandemic

How could the system be fixed? Story by Andy Cush on Pitchfork

BBC Radio 5

"Streaming needs to change"

Musician KT Tunstall says Covid-19 has been “disastrous" for music and streaming services need to support artists.

Huffington Post

"Covid-19 is a Watershed Moment"

How Musicians Are Waging A War On Streaming Platforms From Lockdown

Wired UK

"Lockdown was a boon for Spotify. Now musicians are fighting back."

Why music streaming royalties suck for non-featured artists

How can the music industry fix streaming for session players and ensure that all artists get fair pay from music streaming? Musicians’ Union General Secretary Naomi Pohl explains...

Watch on YouTube

A thumbnail with a yellow background, a cut-out picture of Rachel Bolt next to images of Robbie Williams, Adele and Amy Winehouse.

The Trade Unionist Campaigning For Fairer Streaming: #FixStreaming on Drowned in Sound Podcast

MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl appears on the podcast to explain the MU’s role in the process of changing the law, and discusses the wider challenges to be faced over the coming months and years in relation to #FixStreaming.

She goes into particular detail on the wide-ranging Government enquiry into music streaming, and how it’s looking into the current music streaming landscape - including the payment structures and methods used by music streaming platforms, as well as the challenges faced by musicians in receiving appropriate compensation from the platforms and their labels.

Advice

Copyright, moral rights and performers' rights

Recording contracts with labels

Guidance for composers and songwriters

“Put that ****ing money back right now”

What does the British public think of music streaming royalty splits - and the fact that some musicians get nothing at all?

Watch and share on Instagram

A thumbnail with a yellow background and a cut out picture of two men.

Naomi Pohl

General Secretary

Maddy Radcliff

Campaigns and Social Media Manager

campaigns@themu.org

It's Time to Fix Streaming

We can fix music streaming

It’s time to put the value of music back where it belongs – in your hands.

Work behind the scenes is continuing in working groups and technical groups brought together by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

We’re up against some powerful interest groups who will argue that streaming is working– but we have the community of music and fans on our side.

Campaigns can move fast at a moment’s notice.

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