MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl and Alex Sobel MP, Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Music, at Labour Party Conference 2024.Photo: © The MU.
Earlier this year, the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee published a follow up report to the music streaming inquiry. It included a range of asks on music streaming. Now Government has published its response.
Commitment to achieving a better deal
The government’s response to the Select Committee report contains a renewed commitment to the Creator Remuneration Working Group process.
It states, “Ministers hope that further progress can be made and reserve the right to consider alternative measures if necessary.” This could include a legislative solution if the working group fails to negotiate a better deal for musicians and music creators.
Government is also encouraging record labels to “go further” in updating pre-streaming contracts - increasing royalty rates and disregarding unrecouped balances.
Making sure your voice is heard in the negotiations
At the same time, the government raises concerns about equitable remuneration and rights of contract adjustment and rights reversion based on Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) activity in 2023.
The Union’s position is that the CMA’s findings do not reflect the reality that most musicians experience.
Equitable remuneration and rights of contract adjustment and rights reversion are essential measures to fix streaming – and would have a significant positive impact on musicians and music makers who would, for the first time, earn a fair wage from music streaming.
Musicians and music creators have been waiting for far too long
Reflecting on the Government’s position, MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl said: “Musicians and music creators have been waiting far too long for a fair deal on music streaming.
“Since it became the main way people consume music, we have been arguing that there should be guaranteed royalty streams for all performers and that contracts should be upgraded to fair and modern terms. Labour could achieve this with legislation, but we are working hard to secure a voluntary solution in the meantime.
“It’s time for the major record labels to step up and make some offers. The Government and Select Committee remain fully committed to the ongoing process, and music maker representatives like the MU aren’t going to drop our campaign for a fair deal.”