25 July 2008
The UK’s songwriter society supports ISP measures to stop unlicensed music downloads
The decision by ISPs to work with us and the rest of the UK music industry to encourage only legitimate music downloads is a hugely positive step forward says the MCPS-PRS Alliance.
The Alliance, which is responsible for collecting and distributing music royalties to 60,000 UK and international composers, songwriters and their music publishers, says that encouraging legitimate online activity could bring back the equilibrium to the UK’s music industry which is renowned to be the best in the world.
The vast majority of songwriters and composers - around 90% - earn less than £5,000 per year from royalties and those royalties are a vital source of income. The Alliance has been concerned that a continual erosion from unlicensed music usage could undermine and deter talented people from remaining in and entering the industry in the future.
Steve Porter, Chief Executive of the Alliance commented; ‘This joint industry initiative is significant as a way of redressing the balance between unlicensed and legitimate online music downloads. Together with our delivering effective online licensing solutions this provides a way to enable the growth of a wide-range of attractive music services whilst at the same time ensuring the creators of music are paid for their work.’
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Notes to editors:
The MCPS-PRS Alliance - MCPS and PRS work together in an operational alliance, the MCPS-PRS Alliance. Together, they are one of the world’s most efficient combined rights collecting operations. MCPS-PRS has succeeded in its goal to offer its members more money, more often and at less cost, whilst ensuring its customers are provided with the most efficient means by which they can use music.
www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk
Press Contact:
PRS, Catherine George, 020 7306 4777
Votive Communications, Vaughan Andrewartha, 020 7353 9277