“Clarifies” that both are united in support of “three-strikes” plan to disconnect illegal file-sharers, but conveniently ignores the fact that the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC), the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA), and the Music Producers Guild (MPG) have all united to publicly denounce the proposal.
UK record labels are in quite the quandary these days as they try to maintain a united front in their battle against illegal file-sharing. After years of being the sole voice of the music industry they’ve been facing increasing dissent from many of the singers, songwriters, and producers they claim to be serving, and unsurprisingly, are hoping the public ignores them.
For years the argument for fighting P2P has been framed in the context of protecting artists and those that assist them in producing music. This has been upended since this past March when a new UK-based group called the Featured Artists’ Coalition (FAC) formed and voiced its objection to any legislation that would criminalize file-sharing by music fans.
“For the first time, artists have a collective voice to campaign for effective laws and regulations, and for transparent and equitable business practices,” said the group, which is made up of over 140 top UK artists including Radiohead, Billy Bragg, and more. “The FAC will fight to ensure that interests of artists and fans – without whom the music industry would not exist – are not compromised by under the table deals between multi-national corporations.”
Fast forward to late last month after UK Business Secretary Lord Mandelson, despite the govt having earlier denounced disconnecting file-sharers as “too draconian,” announced that his “thinking has evolved” on the use of “further technical measures” and that “urgent action,” i.e. as a “last resort” disconnecting file-sharers from the Internet, is necessary.
It led to the immediate denunciation by a number of music artists represented by the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC), the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA), and the Music Producers Guild (MPG).
““We vehemently oppose the proposals being made and suggest that the stick is now in danger of being way out of proportion to the carrot,” they wrote in a joint statement. “The failure of 30,000 US lawsuits against consumers and the cessation of the pursuit of that policy should be demonstration enough that this is not a policy that any future-minded UK government should pursue.”
UK Music, an umbrella organization that claims to represent the “collective interests” of the music industry as though those of labels and artists are one in the same, is now trying to “clarify” the position of its members so that there’s no confusion about the music industry’s support for “appropriate and proportionate powers” to fight P2P.
“Like all of society, like all creative businesses, the UK’s commercial music industry reflects a wide spectrum of viewpoints and opinions,” says UK Music CEO Feargal Sharkey. “Discussions over recent weeks have drawn us much closer together and helped us to realize with greater certainty our shared vision of the future. We continue to welcome Government’s support and intervention, both of which will be vital to ensure that those who create and invest in music have the opportunity to deliver their full potential and reap the benefits, rewards and promises of an ever-evolving digital marketplace.”
Apparently those “discussions” didn’t include Patrick Racklow, chief executive of BASCA, one of the alleged members of UK Music, who recently cited research concluding P2P increases music consumption as a reason to have “hope” for the future of the music industry.
“The problems the music industry faces will not be dealt with effectively through legislation,” added Racklow. He said it’s far more important that it “evolve” and adapt to the new reality of a digital music world.
Contrast that with UK Music who thinks more of the same – increased enforcement – is appropriate.
The interests of artists and labels are no more “collective” than are the profits each earn. Labels only see artists as a “means to make revenue” and artists only see labels as a means to finance and distribute their albums.
P2P gives artists the ability to bypass labels and they know it. The only question artists have is how they’ll get paid, but it certainly won’t be by suing music fans or disconnecting them from the Internet.
The only thing UK Music has managed to “clarify” is that it truly doesn’t speak for the music industry at all.
Stay tuned.
jared@zeropaid.com
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“The only thing UK Music has managed to “clarify” is that it truly doesn’t speak for the music industry at all.”
*claps*