EU Proposes Royalty Extension for Performers

[yerblues1968]

Sir Cliff Richard


EU PROPOSES ROYALTY EXTENSION FOR PERFORMERS


From The Times
David Charter in Brussels


July 17, 2008


SIR CLIFF RICHARD PINS HOPES ON LAW THAT WILL KEEP CASH ROLLING IN UNTIL HE'S 113


The rock dinosaurs of the 1960s are in line for a spectacular windfall after the EU announced plans yesterday to extend musicians’ entitlement to retrospective royalties from 50 to 95 years.

Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Cliff Richard and Roger Daltrey have all campaigned for what the record industry calls the Beatles extension, which will guarantee most artists royalties covering their entire careers.



Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Cliff Richard and Roger Daltrey of The Who campaigned for
the Beatles extension for artists to receive royalties covering their entire careers.


The first Beatles recordings will come out of copyright in 2012 and EMI, which owns them, has been a leading campaigner for the change in legislation. Sir Cliff, 67, sees his first hit go out of copyright this year but under the EU proposal he would not lose a penny before his 113th birthday.

Daltrey, lead singer of The Who, has said that thousands of musicians have no pensions and rely on royalties in their old age. For many campaigners, however, the extra income is probably not essential for paying the winter heating bills. Yoko Ono and Barry Gibb were among 4,500 who took out a newspaper advertisement in 2006 calling for 95-year copyright control.

When the Government resisted their call, arguing that most performers would not benefit, the record industry pledged to take the fight to Europe. At the time, Sir Cliff said: “I’m absolutely fed up with singing Living Doll but I have sung it constantly since 1959 because every time I sing it live it generates sales of the original record and royalties to me.”

Charlie McCreevy, the Internal Market Commissioner, said yesterday that performers’ rights would be brought into line with those of authors, as is the case in America. He said: “A 95-year term would bridge the income gap that performers face when they turn 70, just as their early performances recorded in their twenties would lose protection. They will continue to be eligible for broadcast remuneration for performances in public places and compensation payments for private copying of their performances.”

President Sarkozy of France - a close friend of the venerable crooner Johnny Hallyday - had vowed to try to push the deal through the EU during France’s six-month presidency, which started this month.

Opponents of the proposal say that music lovers would suffer from an end to cheap compilations of old recordings. A government spokeswoman said: “The Government is not convinced that there is an economic case for extending the copyright term for performers. We would need to be convinced of real benefits, particularly that it is truly the performers who will benefit rather than the record labels.”

John Smith, of the Musicians’ Union, said that thousands of unsung heroes of vinyl would benefit. “Countless session musicians who have contributed so significantly to the musical heritage of the UK will greet this recognition with delight and relief.”

Anthony Baldwin, a musician and sound engineer who restores old recordings, said that the proposals marked a black day for music fans. “If the legislation gets through, you can say goodbye to independent European vintage CD reissues,” he said.

The proposals will be considered by the European Parliament and need majority approval by ministers.

Herbie Flowers, who played bass on Lou Reed’s Walk on the Wild Side and David Bowie’s Space Oddity, said: “The term of protection for performers has not kept up with life expectancy and it is high time it was changed. I played on a couple of very successful tracks, and it would be unfair for me to stop receiving income for these performances after 50 years - probably just at the time when I will need it the most.”


entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article4347643.ece


Cliff Richard Wins Victory on Music Royalties - 12 Dec 2008
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/3709568/Cliff-Richard-wins-victory-on-music-royalties.html

[yerblues1968]

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown


MUSICIANS URGE COPYRIGHT CHANGE


bbc news


Page last updated at 18:15 GMT,
Wednesday, 26 November 2008



A video message on behalf of 38,000 UK musicians has been sent to Gordon Brown urging him to back an extension of their copyright protection.

The musicians, many of whom have worked with major artists, say they risk losing their income under current laws.

Performers' copyright runs out after 50 years but for composers and authors it extends for 70 years after their death.

The European Commission is backing an extension to 95 years from release, but the UK government is not supportive.

The video message sent to the prime minister features 29 musicians who have recorded on tracks made by artists including Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Madonna and Robbie Williams.

Under current copyright laws, royalties will soon dry up for session musicians who played on classic tracks released in the 1960s, campaigners say.


'SCANT REWARDS'

The musicians have been waging an ongoing campaign for support from the government, but say their message to Mr. Brown comes at a critical stage because the draft European Copyright Term Directive is currently under debate.

It would extend the copyright term in sound recordings, for both the performers and the producers, from 50 to 95 years from release.

The campaigners, who are backed by the PPL, which licenses sound recordings and music videos for use in broadcast and public performance, say there is widespread, cross-party support for the changes, but so far not from the government.

The musicians argue that they receive scant reward for their role in a valuable export industry and deserve gratitude from the government.

"British session musicians are the finest in the world, the absolute finest," said Derek Wadsworth who has worked on tracks with a wide array of artists including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Tom Jones.

"The amount of revenue that's been brought into this country by these people is quite staggering. Now we require the government to help us out a little bit and show perhaps a bit of gratitude."

He added: "Instead they choose to kick us in the face and ignore our campaign to extend the copyright for these people and their estate."


'MISGUIDED'

Phil Pickett, a musician who played with '80s band Culture Club, said the amount of money a copyright change would provide musicians was small but important.

"Ninety per cent of musicians earn less than £15,000 a year. These royalties are very small but they add up over the years," he said.

But the Open Rights Group, a lobbying organisation which specialises in digital rights issues, says performers are "misguided" if they believe a copyright term extension will significantly increase their incomes.

"The European Commission's own figures demonstrate that term extension is likely to benefit ordinary performers as little as 50 cents (33p) a year," says executive director Becky Hogge.

"If Europe passes the directive to extend the term, the vast majority of financial gains - which will come direct from consumers' pockets - will go to the world's four major record labels and a handful of very famous performers."

It added that the EC had indicated artists just starting out would lose income as royalties from radio airplay will have to be shared with the estates of deceased performing artists.

A spokesperson for the Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills said: "We are sympathetic to the European Commission's goal of improving the situation for performers but we don't believe that the current proposal achieves this aim.

"The UK believes the proposal is too complex and most of the benefits will go to the record companies rather than the performers.

"The UK is still considering the detail of this proposal and it will consider future alternatives that come forward."

Shadow Minister for Innovation, Universities and Skills, Adam Afriyie, said: "Britain's artists expect a robust and even-handed set of legal protections, which is why Conservatives called for an extension to the copyright term for sound recordings more than a year ago.

"We would make that case at an international level because we want to create a level playing field for all Britain's talent.

"The prime minister must now listen carefully to our arguments and take immediate action or else he will appear seriously out of touch with the concerns of British musicians."


news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7749416.stm


EU assembly backs 70-year copyright for musicians, 4/23/09
www.theusdaily.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=725643&type=EntertainmentBus