The European Commission has today (July 16) issued its decision in the long-running case regarding reciprocal agreements between European collecting societies.
Commenting on this decision, Feargal Sharkey, British Music Rights CEO, said:

"British Music Rights welcomes the messages emanating from Europe today: that creators should have freedom to choose which society manages their copyright; that societies should be prized for the efficiency and service offered to their members; and that commercial licensing of music becomes easier and more transparent.

“These principles were all clearly recognised by the Commission in October 2005, in their Online Music Recommendation.”

Sharkey added: "However, despite these laudable aims, we remain concerned that the Commission’s decision will have unintended consequences, and that these will impact adversely on the livelihoods of composers and songwriters. The income composers, songwriters and music publishers receive through collecting societies is sacrosanct. Those at the start of the value chain are in the most vulnerable position of all, and it is imperative that the wishes and demands of creators are respected. It must be remembered that without their creative endeavors, the value chain would not function or even exist.”

On this issue, British Music Rights would like to draw particular attention to Commissioner Neelie Kroes’ statement in today’s press release, that: “… the Commission has been careful to ensure that the benefits of the collective rights management system are not put into question in terms of levels of royalties for authors and available music repertoire."
We will be monitoring the situation with the utmost vigilance to ensure that composers and music publishers are not the casualties of this decision.

For further information, please contact Adam Webb on 020 7306 4447 or 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.