The IAO welcomes new code of practice for digital music in France

30 September 2015 - Press release

The International Artist Organisation (IAO) welcomes a new deal for music artists in France that sees labels and platforms commit to artists on transparency and the fair sharing of value from the exploitation of music online.

The announcement by the French Minister of Culture, Fleur Pellerin, in parliament today in Paris sees the successful conclusion of negotiations between labels, digital platforms, artists and unions led by senior civil servant, Marc Schwartz.

The new code sees the Major labels and the digital platforms agreeing to play fair with artists in areas that have up until now been highly contentious such as the lack of clarity over the sharing of multi-million dollar advances as well as the equity stakes taken by the Majors from the platforms.

A committee, which will include artist representatives and be chaired by the French Minister for Culture, will oversee the implantation of the Code and IAO sincerely hopes that all sides will be guided by its overarching principles of fairness and transparency in their dealings going forward.

IAO President Paul Pacifico said today “the music industry must pull together and work as one to get real value from the legal digital opportunities in front of us. This code represents a genuine opportunity for the industry to move forward together and agree not to repeat the sins of the past where artists have not benefitted equitably from the massive growth in the digital market.”