UK Music welcomes government backing in fight to ensure music creators are “fairly remunerated” by online platforms

03 March 2020 - Press release

UK Music Acting CEO Tom Kiehl has welcomed support from the Government in the battle to ensure that music creators are not ripped off by online platforms.

In response to a letter from Mr Kiehl, new Minister for IP Amanda Solloway said she agreed that “music creators need to be fairly remunerated by platforms when their works are used online”.

The move is a boost in the fight to make the UK home to the world’s strongest copyright framework and help ensure the continued success of the music industry, which contributes £5.2 billion a year to the economy and sustains more than 190,000 jobs in the UK.

The minister said that the Department for Business and the Department for Digital Culture, Media and Sport planned to host a series of roundtable events this year with music industry leaders to discuss their concerns.

Her intervention follows a commitment from former Culture Minister Nigel Adams that it was “absolutely imperative” to protect the industry’s “brilliant creators”, even though Brexit meant the Government was no longer required to implement the EU Copyright Directive.

In her letter to Mr Kiehl, the Minister said: “I understand your concerns that music creators need to be fairly remunerated by platforms when their works are used online.

“This is something I agree with, which is why the Government worked hard in the Directive negotiations to secure a good outcome for our creators. Although the UK will not be implementing the Directive now that we have left the EU, our support for creators has not changed.

“This Government recognises the importance and value of our successful music industry. The UK copyright framework must provide fair rewards for creators in the online ecosystem, while taking into account the needs of consumers and ensuring a thriving digital economy.”

Responding to the Minister’s letter, Mr Kiehl said: “It is very encouraging to get such strong support from the new Minister for IP for the music industry and to hear that she believes that creators must be fairly paid for their talent.

“This commitment from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy follows earlier reassurances from the former Culture Minister Nigel Adams about the Government’s determination to secure a positive outcome for music creators.

“We look forward to continuing to press the case for copyright safeguards and the other issues facing the music industry at the forthcoming roundtables with the Government.

“This is a critical time for the UK music industry which faces a number of challenges in the months ahead. We will continue to work with the Government to drive forward our world-leading industry.”