Select Committee · Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Economics of music streaming

Status: Closed Opened: 15 Oct 2020 Closed: 10 Nov 2021 21 recommendations 4 conclusions 1 report

MPs will examine what economic impact music streaming is having on artists, record labels and the sustainability of the wider music industry. With streaming currently accounting for more than half of the global music industry’s revenue, this inquiry will look at the business models operated by platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - Economics of music streaming HC 50 15 Jul 2021 25 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
8 Recommendation Second Report - Economics of music stre… Rejected

Metadata issues compound the poor terms on which creators are remunerated.

Metadata issues compound the poor terms on which creators are remunerated. Whilst there is a significant challenge, it is not insurmountable. First, the Government must oblige record labels to provide metadata for the underlying song when they license a recording to streaming services. Second, it should push industry by any … Read more

Government response AI summary
The Government agrees on the importance of metadata but proposes to address it through improved awareness and engagement with technology businesses, not by obliging labels or mandating data standards. It explicitly rejects the recommendations on black box revenues, stating they are already regulated, and does …
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport
11 Recommendation Second Report - Economics of music stre… Rejected

The Government must make sure that UK law is not enabling the outcome of market...

The Government must make sure that UK law is not enabling the outcome of market dominance. This means that independent labels must be supported to challenge the majors’ dominance and creators must be empowered to offset the disparity in negotiating power when signing with music companies. The Government should expand … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government rejects the recommendation to expand MEGS, place anti-acquisition clauses in grant funding, or introduce a fiscal incentive for the independent music sector, stating MEGS's remit doesn't cover structural issues and tax policy is the Treasury's responsibility.
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport
23 Recommendation Second Report - Economics of music stre… Rejected

As we have acknowledged, the Government has repeatedly told us that it will not implement...

As we have acknowledged, the Government has repeatedly told us that it will not implement the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market. However, to ensure that music creators and companies prosper in the globally important UK music market, the Government must provide protections for rightsholders that are at … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees on fair remuneration but rejects introducing new legally enforceable obligations for UGC-hosting services, stating private negotiations are commercial matters and that it will not implement the EU Copyright Directive. It notes the IPO is reviewing access to justice for IP cases and …
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Oral evidence sessions

7 sessions
Date Witnesses
22 Mar 2021 Amanda Solloway MP · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Caroline Dinenage MP · Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Robert Specterman-Green · Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Tim Moss · Intellectual Property Office View ↗
23 Feb 2021 Elena Segal · Apple Inc, Horacio Gutierrez · Spotify, Paul Firth · Amazon View ↗
10 Feb 2021 Geoff Taylor · BPI, Graham Davies · Ivors Academy, Horace Trubridge · Musicians’ Union, Katherine Oyama · YouTube, Raoul Chatterjee · Soundcloud, Roberto Neri · Music Publishers Association, Steve Bené · Twitch View ↗
4 Feb 2021 Paul Pacifico · Association of Independent Music, Rupert Skellett · Beggars Group, Yvette Griffith · Jazz Re:freshed View ↗
19 Jan 2021 Andrea Martin · PRS for Music, David Joseph · Universal Music UK & Ireland, Jason Iley · Sony Music UK & Ireland, Peter Leathem · Phonographic Performance Ltd, Tony Harlow · Warner Music UK View ↗
8 Dec 2020 Fiona Bevan, José Luis Sevillano · Artistas Intérpretes o Ejecutantes, Entidad de Gestión de Derechos de Propiedad Intelectual (AIE), Kwame Kwaten · Music Managers Forum, Maria Forte · Maria Forte Music Services Ltd, Nile Rodgers, Soweto Kinch View ↗
24 Nov 2020 Colin Young, Ed O'Brien, Guy Garvey, Nadine Shah, Tom Frederikse, Tom Gray · The Ivors Academy View ↗

Who gave evidence

34 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Amanda Solloway MP · Minister for Science, Research and Innovation Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy 1
Andrea Martin · Chief Executive PRS for Music 1
Caroline Dinenage MP · Minister for Digital and Culture Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport 1
Colin Young 1
David Joseph · Chairman and Chief Executive Universal Music UK & Ireland 1
Ed O'Brien 1
Elena Segal · Global Senior Director of Music Publishing Apple Inc 1
Fiona Bevan 1
Geoff Taylor · Chief Executive BPI 1
Graham Davies · Chief Executive Ivors Academy 1
Guy Garvey 1
Horace Trubridge · General Secretary Musicians’ Union 1
Horacio Gutierrez · Head of Global Affairs and Chief Legal Officer Spotify 1
Jason Iley · Chairman and Chief Executive Sony Music UK & Ireland 1
José Luis Sevillano · Director General Artistas Intérpretes o Ejecutantes, Entidad de Gestión de Derechos de Propiedad Intelectual (AIE) 1
Katherine Oyama · Director, Government Affairs & Public Policy YouTube 1
Kwame Kwaten · Vice Chair Music Managers Forum 1
Maria Forte · Managing Director Maria Forte Music Services Ltd 1
Nadine Shah 1
Nile Rodgers 1
Paul Firth · Director of International Music Amazon 1
Paul Pacifico · Chief Executive Association of Independent Music 1
Peter Leathem · Chief Executive Phonographic Performance Ltd 1
Raoul Chatterjee · Vice President for Content Partnerships Soundcloud 1
Robert Specterman-Green · Director, Media and Creative Industries Department for Culture, Media and Sport 1
Roberto Neri · Chair Music Publishers Association 1
Rupert Skellett · General Counsel Beggars Group 1
Soweto Kinch 1
Steve Bené · General Counsel Twitch 1
Tim Moss · Chief Executive Intellectual Property Office 1
Tom Frederikse 1
Tom Gray · Chair The Ivors Academy 1
Tony Harlow · Chief Executive Warner Music UK 1
Yvette Griffith · Co-Chief Executive and Executive Director Jazz Re:freshed 1

Correspondence

5 letters
DateDirectionTitle
14 Jun 2022 To cttee Letter from Julia Lopez MP, Minister for Media, Data and Digital Infrastructure…
22 Sep 2021 To cttee Letter from the Chair to Andrea Coscelli CBE, Chief Executive, CMA, relating to…
22 Sep 2021 Correspondence between the Government and the Competition and Markets Authority…
12 Jan 2021 Written evidence: BPI (EMS208)
24 Nov 2020 Background paper: Colin Young music streaming slides