U.K. DEMANDS U.S. TO PAY TO PLAY

Could U.S. radio stations be required to pay for playing U.K. music after Brexit? That’s the demand from British trade body the BPI, which has urged ministers to rectify the lack of payment for airplay when negotiating a free trade agreement with the U.S. after Britain leaves the EU in March.

According to a story printed in The Times, the BPI has criticised “out of step” copyright rules in the U.S., taking issue with the lack of no royalties earned for radio play in the States. That’s different than the U.K. and many other countries around the world where music earns royalties for radio airplay.

In a recent government consultation, the BPI said: “The U.S. is out of step with most of the world on denying licence fees to recorded music rights holders and giving a subsidy to U.S. businesses at the expense of U.K. artists and labels.”

After Brexit in March, the U.K. will be negotiating a free trade agreement on copyright with the U.S. and “the introduction of broadcasting and public performance rights needs to be an absolute requirement,” the BPI added.

Does the U.K. have the power to change this age old trend? And if it does, what precedent does that set for U.S. acts? Stay tuned.