This morning’s vote by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), to reject the Legal Affairs Committee’s proposals on the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market, has been greeted with considerable disappointment by the music industry and all who campaign on behalf of creators.
The Musicians’ Union (MU) has been lobbying for several years to achieve fair compensation for performers, including featured artists and session musicians, from streaming services and user-upload sites such as YouTube.
Lobbying from giant tech business world
Amid calls from other MEPs for a broad-based debate later in the year, the vote was lost by 318 to 278. The legislation is now on hold and will go before a full debate in September.
The draft Directive contains provisions for improved transparency in royalty accounting to performers and creators, as well as for making contracts and payments fairer in the digital world.
The Directive has been subject to a major lobbying campaign by the giant tech business world who clearly have a vested and multi-million-pound interest in the issue.
Efforts will be redoubled to bring an end to appalling injustice
Horace Trubridge, MU General Secretary, said:
“Yet again the tech industry has used its considerable political influence to deny creators and rights owners a fair share of the enormous riches that they derive from their businesses.
"These multi-billion pound companies would have nothing to offer their customers and users were it not for the efforts of musicians, songwriters and producers, yet they are allowed to continue to deny the creative community their rightful share.
"The fight goes on and we will redouble our efforts to convince the legislators they must act to bring an end to this appalling injustice.”
The proposals will now be subject to further amendment at a forthcoming full European Parliamentary Plenary session in the autumn.