British Music Rights welcomes Commissioner McCreevy and the European Commission's recommendation that Europe's music performers should have their term of copyright extended to 95 years. Though this will not affect our member organisations directly, any move that recognises the contribution of creators and artists to our society and economy is to be applauded.

We also welcome the Commission's plans to relaunch a public consultation on the copyright levy and in particular Commission McCreevy's statement that he does not "Question the entitlement of rights holders to receive compensation for losses due to private copying." We would urge the UK Government to fully take onboard the Commissioner's comments as part of the ongoing Gower's report consultation and act appropriately. 

Currently 24 members of the EU provide mechanisms to compensate creators. We believe the UK government's current stance - that the music industry should raise the price of CDs - is both commercially unviable and anti-consumer.

As voice for the UK’s community of songwriters, composers, publishers and their collecting societies, British Music Rights seeks to promote new business models with any service or manufacturer that derives value from music, and to ensure that that value is formally recognised and licensed.

Feargal Sharkey, Chief Executive of British Music Rights, said:   "Commissioner McCreevy is to be applauded for his recognition of the significant role creators play in all of our lives. I hope that we can send the same clear message of support to our own creators here in the UK during the Gower's consultation."

For further information, please contact Adam Webb on 07908 811223 or email adam.webb@bmr.org.
 
www.bmr.org

Notes to Editors:

• British Music Rights was established to promote greater awareness of the interests and concerns of British music composers, songwriters and publishers to UK and EU policymakers and the wider public. The primary focus is to communicate an understanding of the rights and rewards for creativity in the music business; the value of those rights to UK plc; the impact of new technologies upon music creators and publishers and the resulting policy and legislative implications.
  
• Our member organisations are the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters, the Music Publishers Association, the Performing Right Society and the Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society.