The European Commission on Wednesday (16 July) told the organisations that collect music copyright fees for artists that they have to end agreements that stop them from competing across borders. At the moment, music copyright groups have a system of contracts meaning that artists may collect payments only from an agency in their own country. Musicians' groups say the decision will hurt lesser-known artists and those from smaller countries But after consultation with industry and artists, following a complaint by broadcaster RTL and British online group Music Choice, the commission came down on the side of freer competition, saying this would allow authors to choose on the basis of quality of service, efficiency of collection and level of management fees deducted. At the moment, companies such as RTL that want to offer a pan-European service cannot obtain a single licence but have to negotiate with individual national collecting societies.
The European Commission on Wednesday (16 July) told the organisations that collect music copyright fees for artists that they have to end agreements that stop them from competing across borders.
At the moment, music copyright groups have a system of contracts meaning that artists may collect payments only from an agency in their own country.
Musicians' groups say the decision will hurt lesser-known artists and those from smaller countries
But after consultation with industry and artists, following a complaint by broadcaster RTL and British online group Music Choice, the commission came down on the side of freer competition, saying this would allow authors to choose on the basis of quality of service, efficiency of collection and level of management fees deducted.
At the moment, companies such as RTL that want to offer a pan-European service cannot obtain a single licence but have to negotiate with individual national collecting societies.
