The EU Copyright Directive needs YOUR HELP!
There have been worrying attacks on the European cultural diversity recently. The fair payout rates for artists and songwriters that we have been striving for for so many years are now under threat.
March 15, 2019
At the end of March 2019 the European Parliament will finally decide on the EU Copyright Directive. Though it has been endorsed by various officials it is now threatened to be overturned. We all have reasons to be worried that the masses of criticism regarding this reform will influence and impress politicians in the upcoming European elections and leave them to vote against an improvement of the severe situation of creatives. Currently there are serious protests and „shit-storms“ by certain party members and internet users against all supporters of the reform. YouTube has upset the reformers massively by instigating its’ users and spreading terms such as „upload filter“ or „attack on freedom of expression“ stoking fears and preventing a matter-of-fact debate. Protest marches against the Copyright Directive are planned for March 23rd throughout Europe. Many YouTubers and internet activists have started campaigns such as „Pledge" which threaten the members of the European Parliament not to vote for them in the next election if they vote in favour of the reform. This has been particularly unsettling for German politicians!
It is our duty to back up the supporters of the reform - otherwise years of hard work of the creatives would be for nothing! This is a real chance to adapt the Copyright Law to our digital age. If we don’t take action now platforms such as YouTube would continue to hoover up your earnings and let you participate in their income only as they please. This would continue to be a massive disadvantage and send out a totally wrong message - Who is doing politics in Europe? The European Institutions or Google?
This is your last chance - the reformers need your help NOW!
The parliamentarians are constantly under attack and receive thousands of e-mails by "Article 13“ opponents. Most of them seem to not be informed or don’t have enough insight into the complexity of this area - the music industry and particularly the licensing business is a complicated and vast field for the layman.
As hardly anyone can argue with realistic facts against this current „shit-storm“ we need your help!
Join in, be LOUD and show publicly that this is about US and OUR WORK! We need and support this reform!
We say YES to culture, creativity and the Copyright Law as a protection of all creative people against exploitation by parasitic business models!
BE LOUD! AND USE SOCIAL MEDIA!
For further info visit: https://www.article13.de/ [German] or https://www.article13.org/ [English]
Petition "Make The Internet Fair": https://makeinternetfair.eu/
Website "Save Our Sound": https://save-our-sound.de/
Also there have been alarming news regarding the songwriter payout rate increase in the USA:
Last year, a major decision was announced by the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) to raise mechanical royalty rates by over 40% for songwriters over a five year period. This decision was the outcome of the 2017 trial between the National Music Publisher’s Association (NMPA) and the Nashville Songwriters Association (NSAI) against major streaming and big tech companies such as Spotify, Google, Amazon, Apple, and Pandora. Not only is this the largest potential increase since the CRB's inception, but it is also the best rate songwriters have seen in history. Companies such as NMPA and NSAI have been working for the best interests of music publishers and songwriters, and today, these efforts for change are in jeopardy.
This victory for songwriters is being threatened by the tech companies (with the exception of Apple) due to their file for appeal against the CRB's decision. Each of these companies are striving to cut the payout increase by nearly one third. As a response, the NMPA will file a notice of appeal to help protect the CRB's decision.
Here you can find find some further information on and articles about this topic:
https://soundcloud.com/musicbizworld/spotify-vs-songwriters-david-israelite-of-the-nmpa
http://nmpa.org/spotify-blog-post-insults-songwriters-by-attempting-to-deceive-them-a-fact-check/
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/spotify-vs-songwriters-irving-azoff-justin-tranter-and-other-leading-music-biz-figures-slam-streaming-companys-royalty-rise-appeal/
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/podcast/wait-spotify-is-suing-songwriters-what-the-heck-is-going-on/?fbclid=IwAR1AjPF6ty4px1qtYsykDD4Raokm4weJWbYie1SSrQ2A3iS9-Bae1cnsFDc
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/apple-blasts-spotify-for-suing-music-creators-as-it-defends-app-tax/