Government urged to fight ‘pathetic returns’ for musicians | Music

A new parliamentary report calls on the UK government to streamline policy-making in the creative industries to make the UK music ecosystem more welcoming to UK musicians.

The report was produced by the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) Commission on Expenditure, Policy and Management and follows the 2021 Report on Music Streaming and the State of the Industry. Competitive Markets Authority on the power and role of streaming services. The report praises the government’s efforts to take action, such as asking the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) to investigate and establishing a working group of technical stakeholders, but also to support artists more effectively. said further action is needed.

“Governments need to stay ahead of the game by taking a more strategic role in intersectoral policy coordination,” said Damien Green, acting chairman of the DCMS committee..

The government’s current methods are too messy to be effective compared to other successful countries vying for market share, such as Canada and South Korea, according to the report.

This points to the fact that the government’s responsibility for the music industry is multi-sectoral and means there are still unresolved issues, such as the post-Brexit EU creative industry visa issue. increase. These issues “may be addressed by the DCMS setting overall direction more regularly by publishing its overall strategy,” the report said. concert to perform.

While the report broadly welcomes government action on the DCMS Commission’s 2021 Streaming Report, it calls into question the practices of formed working groups addressing transparency and metadata. “We are told that the working group has missed its deadline and has not yet delivered on the tangible outcomes publicly promised,” it said. “I also heard that he on the Working Group did very little on the transparency and accountability mechanism itself, even though one was on transparency.”

It also suggests that the IPO has commissioned a report on rewards and rights, but that there “may not be concrete action” on the report due to the lack of working groups on these topics.

The report’s recommendations on government and IPO participation are: “IPOs should, at a minimum, increase the transparency of the group by ensuring that its membership, agenda and deadlines are made public and that the group has a reporting function. We guarantee that “Ministers and ministry officials will take a more active role in groups where appropriate.” The report also recommends the creation of a working group on remuneration and performers’ rights.

Green said, “We still have a lot of work to do to make sure the talent behind the music is properly rewarded.”

“The Commission heard that the majority of musicians and songwriters remain frustrated with the returns,” he said. Key stakeholders need to come together to improve this in a sustainable way.”