Source · Select Committees · Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Recommendation 17
17
Paragraph: 151
Music curators play an important role in the discovery and consumption of digital music and...
Recommendation
Music curators play an important role in the discovery and consumption of digital music and are influential in how creators are remunerated. It is, therefore, unsurprising that music creators are putting more resources into catching the eye of these curators. Where curators are paid or receive benefits in kind for playlisting, Economics of music streaming 107 we recommend that they are subject to a code of practice developed by the Advertising Standards Authority, similar to social media influencers, to ensure that the decisions they make are transparent and ethical.
Paragraph Reference:
151
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government agrees with this recommendation. It has engaged with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) who have highlighted that every instance of the interaction of commercial and editorial expression requires consideration on its own merits. Disclosure requirements already exist across a range of media where advertising and editorial content intersect, as well as in relation to product placement and commercial references within programmes in broadcast services. However, there are circumstances where requirements may vary or be applied with a lighter touch by a media regulator rather than the advertising regulator. The Government has also engaged with Ofcom, which has pointed out that, although the Broadcasting Code specifically prohibits payment (or other commercial arrangements) influencing the selection or rotation of music played on Ofcom-licensed radio services, it has no role in regulating streaming services. The case for further intervention needs to be carefully considered and the Government will look to gather further evidence to explore this complex issue further.