Lord Carter talks about the future of digital music in Britain at the PRS for Music annual general meeting.
Pete Waterman talks about online royalties.
Students from the BRIT school discuss the value of music.
News - the Issue
Fair Play for Creators is an online space where creators, consumers and journalists can find information about music creators' online rights, learn how they are threatened and publicly demonstrate their concern.
Fair Play for Creators was established after Internet-giant, Google, made the decision to remove some music content from YouTube.
Google's decision was made because it didn't want to pay the going rate for music, to the creators of that music, when it was used on YouTube.
On 3 September, PRS for Music and YouTube announced a new licensing agreement that covers music contained in videos streamed via the online video platform. As a result, premium music videos were reinstated to YouTube in the United Kingdom.
Music creators rely on receiving royalties whenever and wherever their work is used. Royalties are vital in nurturing creative music talent. They make sure music creators are rewarded for their creativity in the same way any other person would be in their work.
Fair Play for Creators believes that fans should have access to the music they love, and that the work of music creators should be paid for by the online businesses who benefit from its use.
Media coverage of the new licensing deal
5 September 2009
PRS for Music and YouTube sign a new licensing deal
3 September 2009
Songwriters, composers and the YouTube community benefit as licence is concluded and premium music videos return to YouTube.
PRS for Music and YouTube have announced a new licensing agreement that covers music contained in videos streamed via the online video platform. As a result, premium music videos will be reinstated to YouTube in the United Kingdom.
Read the official announcement that has been issued to the press
Digital Britain full report published - PRS for Music response
16 June 2009
“We welcome the Digital Britain report and believe that a coordinated approach to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead will benefit everyone. Building a fully Digital Britain that allows wider consumer choice and the development of new music services, whilst also protecting the rights of creators and the notion of intellectual property is important for UK PLC.
As a leading player in growing the digital market place PRS for Music will continue to work with all parties to deliver great services to consumers and ensure our songwriter, composer and music publisher members are fairly compensated when their music is used.”
Steve Porter, Chief Executive, PRS for Music
Learn more about Digital Britain and other reports in the Policy Reviews section
Latest press coverage
15 April 2009
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Latest press coverage
14 April 2009
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Latest press coverage
9 April 2009
The Fair Play For Creators launch event took place on Wednesday 8 April 2009. Read the coverage we've received:
ECSA/CIAM statement
8 April 2009
Read the full statement released by the European Composer and Songwriter Alliance (ECSA) and the International Council of Creators of Music (CIAM):
Latest press coverage
7 April 2009
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5 April 2009
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Latest press coverage
3 April 2009
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Latest press coverage
2 April 2009
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Letter to the Times
2 April 2009
Supporters of the Fair Play For Creators campaign have today published a letter in UK newspaper, The Times, to highlight their concerns over the use of their music online, particularly in relation to the Google/YouTube dispute. The campaign is also covered in an article in The Times today.
View the abridged letter published in The Times today
View the full letter including a full list of signatories
Musicians Union & Featured Artists’ Coalition Support PRS for Music
1 April 2009
Additional industry groups sign up to campaign.
On the day that Google has announced it will begin pulling videos from the German version of YouTube following its refusal to pay German copyright society GEMA, the Musicians Union (MU) and Featured Artists’ Coalition (FAC) have published statements in support of PRS for Music. The MU and FAC join other industry bodies including UKMusic, BASCA, MPA and PCAM in publicly declaring their support for the collection society in its negotiations with Google.
Now Google blocks music on YouTube in Germany
1 April 2009
In a move which replicates the one taken in the UK on 9 March, Google has today started blocking access to music content on the German version of YouTube in another dispute over fees.
Talks between Google and GEMA (the organisation that is equivalent to PRS for Music in Germany) have broken down over the rate Google is prepared to pay songwriters and composers for their music.
Again, Google wants to pay creators less for their music.
In a statement, GEMA says: ‘Negotiations on the extension of the licence agreement between GEMA and YouTube have broken down. YouTube have announced that they will block access to videos on the German site, in a similar action to that taken in Britain two weeks ago.
‘GEMA’s licence agreement expired on 31.3.2009. YouTube is not prepared to meet GEMA’s requirements, and merely offered an extension of the current ‘lump sum basis’ agreement, without detailed information on works and the number of streams. GEMA has rejected this.
Both parties also failed to reach agreement on the size of the payment.’
GEMA CEO Harald Heker stated that ‘GEMA will continue to work to protect the interests of its members, adding that other rights areas are also affected (eg: labels, book publishers etc.).’
Now German creators have joined their UK colleagues in criticising Google’s stance.
Here’s how Bild reports the story in Germany.
Latest press coverage
31 March 2009
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Latest press coverage
26 March 2009
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Pete Waterman talks to Fair Play for Creators about online royalties
25 March 2009
Students from the BRIT school for performing arts and technology discuss the future of music
25 March 2009
Latest PRS for Music Statement in relation to Google/YouTube
10 March 2009
Talks between PRS for Music and Google took place today to discuss the licensing of YouTube following Google's sudden decision to block premium video content on the service in the UK.
The meeting was positive. We are committed to ensuring our 60,000 songwriter and composers members receive a fair deal and that UK consumers continue to enjoy music videos on YouTube.
PRS for Music and Google are due to meet again over the next few days.
PRS for Music exists to help businesses and community groups get access to some of the world’s best loved music, while making sure that songwriters, composers and publishers are rightfully rewarded whenever their musical works are played, performed or reproduced.
Notes to Editors
PRS for Music provides the permissions needed to use music for any product or space, from a TV programme or YouTube video, to the workplace radio and every possibility in between. Through effective, fair and transparent licensing we ensure that creators can keep on creating by delivering vital income to all our 60,000 membership. PRS for Music is proud to keep one of the UK’s most vibrant creative industries working.
PRS for Music Statement in relation to Google/YouTube announcement
9 March 2009
PRS for Music is outraged on behalf of consumers and songwriters that Google has chosen to close down access to music videos on YouTube in the UK.
Google has told us they are taking this step because they wish to pay significantly less than at present to the writers of the music on which their service relies, despite the massive increase in YouTube viewing.
This action has been taken without any consultation with PRS for Music and in the middle of negotiations between the two parties. PRS for Music has not requested Google to do this and urges them to reconsider their decision as a matter of urgency.
Steve Porter CEO PRS for Music said "We were shocked and disappointed to receive a call late this afternoon informing us of Google's drastic action which we believe only punishes British consumers and the songwriters whose interests we protect and represent."
Google had revenues of $5.7bn in the last quarter of 2008.
Notes to Editors
PRS for Music exists to help businesses and community groups get access to some of the world’s best loved music, while making sure that songwriters, composers and publishers are rightfully rewarded whenever their musical works are played, performed or reproduced.
PRS for Music provides the permissions needed to use music for any product or space, from a TV programme or YouTube video, to the workplace radio and every possibility in between. Through effective, fair and transparent licensing we ensure that creators can keep on creating by delivering vital income to all our 60,000 membership. PRS for Music is proud to keep one of the UK’s most vibrant creative industries working.
