Artists all over the UK have been rallying to support Welsh Labour MP Kevin Brennan, who is responsible for the current parliamentary debate on the Rights and Remuneration of Musicians private bill. The bill aims to change the “Economics of music streaming” based on recommendations made by the cross-party group of MPs on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee. In essence, the core goal is to “ensure performers and composers are properly remunerated, by placing the treatment of revenue gained from music streaming services onto a common footing with the treatment of revenue gained from other sources.”.

Four Tet, featured, made headlines recently after his music was removed from streaming services over a royalty dispute, Brennan believes that Keiran Hebden (more popularly known by his stage name Four Tet) was very much in the right on his opposition to the lack of payment. In an article written for the times, Brennan states that record labels are “Relying on an ancient pre-streaming contract” and that it “doesn’t pay you what you should”.

My article in The Times – ‘Let’s set record straight and pay musicians their due’ #FixStreaming #BrokenRecord pic.twitter.com/etGcGSUp6A

— Kevin Brennan MP (@KevinBrennanMP) December 4, 2021

Since Brennan’s bill had its second reading on 3^rd December, nothing notable has come out of parliament. But the bill has rallied support from a significant portion of the industry. Horace Trubridge, General Secretary of the Musicians’ Union says, “We’re immensely grateful to Kevin Brennan and all the MPs, musicians, songwriters, composers, session players and featured artists who have supported the call to fix streaming” Adding, “It’s by no means the end of the Fix Streaming campaign… We will continue to put pressure on the Government and music industry to make the streaming system fairer and put the value of music back where it belongs – in our members’ hands.”.   Over 20,000 musicians have gotten involved with the #FixStreaming and #BrokenRecord campaigns, including Four Tet, Caribou, Adele, Rebecca Ferguson, and many others. While this, so far, doesn’t seem to have progressed; #BrokenRecord campaigner (who clearly knows his way around the parliamentary system) set the record -pardon the pun- straight by saying that “the vote goes to the back of the debating queue.” Meaning it might be a while until any major changes are made.

If you’re confused by what’s happened in Parliament. They voted on closure, they kept it open, which means the vote goes to the back of the debating queue. They’ll try to move for a vote soon, but the govt will push it out. So debate will go to 2.30pm but won’t pass. — Tom Gray #BrokenRecord (@MrTomGray) December 3, 2021

Graham Davies, CEO of The Ivors Academy (a professional association for music writers in Europe), adds “Today’s debate of the Brennan Bill is a landmark moment on the path to the inevitable modernisation of the music industry. The Government accepted that reform must take place to level-up payments for music makers. It is not a matter of if this reform happens but how.”

While progress is without a doubt being made, musicians should continue to campaign for the change in royalties from streaming services. See the full story, including explained segments of Brennan’s bill here.