How to fix streaming is a question that has plagued the music industry and musicians for a decade and a half.
The podcast episode examines the question, how do we "fix" music streaming? Summarising the issue in their blurb:
“It's a question that has plagued the music industry and musicians for a decade and a half, whilst debating the pounds, pennies and slithers of a pence per stream...so this discussion about music streaming seemed like a great place to restart our podcast, which is will focus on music, through the prism of creativity, sustainability, pioneers and big ideas.
“There are now a range of campaigns around the world and several organisations unifying in the UK to try to change the law, to ensure musicians and those who invest in them receive fairer pay from Spotify, YouTube, TikTok, Apple, Amazon, etc, etc, etc…
“In the UK, there's been a UK government DCMS (Department of Culture, Media and Sport) enquiry exploring the issue of music streaming royalties and the challenges faced by musicians in receiving fair compensation for their work.”
Discussion of the wider challenges to be faced
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.
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.
Listen to the Drowned in Sound episode on Apple podcasts.
Find out more about the MU’s Fix Streaming campaign.