The online campaign known as the #Brokenrecord initiative began in April 2021, a campaign to support a change in UK law which would result in musicians receiving fairer remuneration from streaming services such as Spotify.

The campaign is run by the Musician’s Union and  Music Producers’ Guild, and argues that services such as Apple Music and Spotify should be legislated in a similar way to the radio, which would mean that artists receive fairer compensation for their work. Currently, the royalty rates for streaming service are decided by individual companies, and the artist in question either receives them directly or through their label. Radio royalties on the other hand are paid via a performing rights organisation, which guarantees a fair, consistent amount is paid.

As printed in NME, the campaign letter states that “The law has not kept up with the pace of technological change and, as a result, performers and songwriters do not enjoy the same protections as they do in radio… Today’s musicians receive very little income from their performances – most featured artists receive tiny fractions of a US cent per stream and session musicians receive nothing at all.” It goes on to say that the change in regulations “won’t cost the taxpayer a penny but will put more money in the pockets of UK taxpayers and raise revenues for public services like the NHS.”

The campaign received its most significant support yet this month as UN Agency The World Intellectual Property Organisation stated that “streaming remuneration likely should be considered consideration for a communication to the public right.” 

The campaign has been gathering steam for the past couple of months, and today has gained major names amongst its signatories. The most recent supporters include The Rolling Stones, Tom Jones, Emeli Sande and Jarvis Cocker, who join the ranks of Paul McCartney, Kate Bsh and others who signed at the campaign’s inception.

An extraordinary list becomes ever more extraordinary.

The signatories to the letter we’ve sent to @BorisJohnson today.

156 becomes 234. #BrokenRecord pic.twitter.com/HYnCkYuEWu

— Tom Gray #BrokenRecord (@MrTomGray) June 7, 2021