More than 150 British musicians are calling on the Prime Minister to update U.K. copyright law to increase revenues to creators from streaming. Annie Lennox, Paul McCartney, Bob Geldof, Lily Allen, Chris Martin and Kate Bush are among names backing the campaign.
In an open letter, the signatories are asking Boris Johnson to change two words in the 1988 Copyright, Designs and Patents Act that would mean artists, performers and songwriters receive the same rights they have in radio, otherwise known as equitable remuneration. The campaign arrives as the Government is pulling together a report on recommendations following the end of its sessions into the economics of streaming.
The letter is also asking the PM to make an immediate referral to the Competition and Markets Authority in order to address “the extraordinary power wielded by multinational corporations at the expense of songwriters.” In addition, signatories are asking for a regulator “to ensure the lawful and fair treatment of all music makers by the industry."
