Fair Play for Creators

We need to find a way to pay musicians, or the quality of music will continue to regress as there is less incentive for people to play. People need relevant, astute and honest music now, more than ever.

Help the creators keep on creating!

Painters get paid for their paintings, burger flippers get paid for their flipping. Musicians don’t get paid for their music. Doesn't sound fair to me...

I am a semi-pro musician and my husband is a pro musician, yet time and time again even after nearly 20 yrs in the business he receives comments from friends and strangers alike about what his 'real' job is - why is music looked on as a hobby and therefore not worthy of proper recompense? If you are not famous or rich somehow you are wasting your time and these actions by online sites just shows how widespread this view is and undermines the talent, creativity and hardwork put in to most musician’s careers

YouTube can use my music for free when they stop collecting any commercial income, continue running and developing the service for free, and get all their staff to work for the love of it.

I agree with PRS for Music.

We just want a fair deal. These online companies such as Google are now multi million pound organisations.

It is a matter of respect, justice, common sense and the law of the land. The music and songs start with the creators, who are happy for everyone to share the added value as well as to share the inspiration. All they ask is their proper and fair return, which rewards their efforts and helps keep them creating more.

The music which we create is increasingly under threat of devaluation; Many of the general public, constantly surrounded as they are by music, and swamped as they are with imagery of songwriters and performers as celebrities, seem to assume that all composers and songwriters are financially secure, and that one fleetingly successful song will set you up for life . It was depressing to note that so many media commentators seemed to side with Google recently; If the public are against us, then what chance do we stand against huge corporations and multinationals?

The value of the creator's talents is not recognised if everyone can download and use music, images and creative works for free. If the musicians, artists and photographers didn't do what they do so well... the world would be a less interesting place for all of us... so please show your support.

I give my vote as this isn't just a hobby it is a job.

I have been a member of PRS for Music since the early 1960's. I completely agree with Jools Holland. PRS for Music exists to ensure songwriters and composers are paid their rightful reward for the music they create. It is not a commercial organisation, but a not-for-profit collective of songwriters, composers and publishers. Google is a big commercial entity which must properly pay the very people who make the YouTube service a success. We less famous songwriters rely on a just remuneration for our creations. To expect us to waive our royalties Google is robbing us of our income on which we rely. The Giant is standing on the Ant.

There are so many talented songwriters, and creators of music out there, and members of PRS for Music, who never get a look in from the Music Industry. And yet anyone who is aware the Internet/Google situation can only really come to the conclusion that it is not really worth allowing their material to be heard on the net. Thus not only do the songwriters suffer, but also the genuine music loving public too!

With three items on YouTube I obviously have a vested interest, but I strongly believe that writers/creators should be rewarded fairly for their efforts.

The decision Google have taken with YouTube is an expression of their belief they can trample the rights of any contributor. I have been a member of PRS for Music for many years. Just because music is a downloadable commodity, easy to copy, easy to manipulate, does not mean it is a valueless product. Google's decision in this issue makes it clear they believe otherwise.

How are we supposed to continue trying to make a living when one of the business world's super powers refuse to support or acknowledge our work?

Artists and composers earn their living from music. Not only should Google pay for music posted on their sites, they should also seek permission from artists before their work is displayed. You Tube should not allow indiscriminate posts of music performances the way they do now!

It's of vital importance that we writers stick together and refuse to allow ourselves to be bullied by either Google or any other corporate giant. As individuals we are but one small voice, but collectively we have the power to defeat the bully-boy tactics of Google and YouTube.

Thank you PRS for Music for trying to protect all music creators rights....all the best!

We must get paid for the amount of time and effort we put into making music, big companies have massive budgets, you need to play fair and pay the musicians a fair deal.

I totally support PRS for Music in their approach, thank you, please keep me informed of progress.

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.

It’s unfair.

Music and sound enhances our everyday lives on many positive levels. If we are pushed into a corner we are then left with no room for expression. We are all happy to buy a book which we may read but once, whereas we listen to our favourite songs/music for a life time. PEOPLE!! WAKE UP!! Please help to 'KEEP MUSIC ALIVE.'

If things carry on the way they have been going for quite some years now, we will end up with NO decent music....only amateur efforts, as quality craftspeople will not be able to survive. PAY UP GOOGLE!

It’s important that Internet companies pay a fair fee for having music on their site. For poorer members of the composing community it’s often one of the few outlets for their music.

I think it's very important to make a stand against the constant erosion of revenue for the songwriter composer. With unit sale prices being devalued over the last few years we must try and make sure that a fair return to the artist from online listening and viewing of music videos is agreed.

This dispute is another fine example of corporate greed and bullying, Google is trying to squeeze songwriters in the same way that supermarkets squeeze their small suppliers, and using the same spurious excuses. If you want good food and not adulterated chemical pap you have to pay a fair price for it, exactly the same goes for music.

As in all walks of life there is a vast difference between amateur and professional. If professional creators of music are to survive they have to receive just recompense for their work, and we cannot allow Google's greed to destroy a profession.

I must say I am disappointed with Google's behaviour over this issue; so much of YouTube's content is dependent upon music, I cannot understand how they can show such little respect for composers.

One more step backwards in the music industry... good one Google!

All of these problems stem from the fact the UK paid over the odds for CDs for years. It encouraged a climate where people are proud of getting one over the 'greedy' record companies. This business model no longer exists but the public have not changed. They still feel they are justified in 'stealing' music and getting it for nothing. You MUST educate the public: your work is valuable, should be paid for & this income creates and sustains a vibrant songwriting community for the benefit of all.

I support this campaign.

Google/YouTube. Helping to create a world of impoverished amateurs. Change your search engine today.

As a Mobile DJ I see PRS for Music asking me to buy a licence to be able to copy the music I use into a digital PC based format, through the ProDub License, Which I wholly support. I would like to see (and will support PRS for Music to see) YouTube and the other Online Music sites being charged at the same rate they expect us to pay. Fair's Fair Google.

As an independent DJ/producer/label owner it's very difficult to survive sales and royalties people outside of the business think that we earn huge sums of money, live the high life and drive luxury cars, they couldn't be further from the truth personally, I work 12hrs a day 7 days a week in the studio. For all those hours I get very little back, it's not a career move for someone if they want to make a lot of money!! Any royalties that trickle through really help with everyday living costs.

About time some one stood up and said something! keep up the great work.

A timely and much needed campaign. Google are a revolutionary company which can do much good, but are unfortunately tarnished by outrageous greed and are yet another conglomerate exploiting the insufficient laws to protect the welfare of musicians for their own gain. I firmly believe the internet holds the key for the future of music, but this bullying and "legal theft" needs to stop before we can move on. Good luck with the campaign.