UK Legacy Artists to Get Streaming Royalty Boost

UK-based legacy artists, songwriters, and session musicians will soon receive an earnings boost thanks to a new agreement between the major labels and the Creator Remuneration Working Group (CRWG), a committee formed within the UK government's Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport.

Payment breakdown:

• The agreement predicts labels could pay out tens of millions of pounds in investments by 2030.

• Artists who signed record deals before streaming's prominence will have more support in renegotiating contracts for streaming royalties.

• Songwriters and composers will be paid per diem and expenses for recording sessions.

• The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and Musicians’ Union agreed to increase session musician rates 40% for pop and 15% for classical.

• The UK arms of the three major labels, Universal Music Group, Sony Music, and Warner Music Group, backed the new agreement.

What they said:

• Creative Industries Minister Sir Chris Bryant, Chair of the CRWG: “Everyone loves music, and it’s about time we really valued the people who create it. Millions of us use music streaming platforms that provide a fantastic service to their customers, connecting users with a wealth of music from around the world. But many musicians and songwriters are really struggling, and artists simply don’t think they receive their fair share of the profit generated by their work on these platforms. These new measures, which apply specifically in the UK, are an important step in ensuring creators are fairly paid for their work.”