Economics of music streaming: MPs to examine the impact of streaming on artists, labels & the wider music industry

The UK Parliament has launched an inquiry into the economics of music streaming. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) Select Committee will examine impact music streaming is having on artists, record labels and the sustainability of the wider music industry.

The witness sessions will start at 10:00 on Tuesday 24th November with FAC’s Ed O’Brien, Nadine Shah and Tom Gray as well as Guy Garvey - watch live here.

[Update: 3rd December] The second witness session will start at 10:00 on Tuesday 8th December, with Nile Rogers, Kwame Kwarten (MMF) and Soweto Kinch - watch live here.

[Update: 15th January] The third witness session will start at 10.00 on Tuesday 19th January. Peter Leathem from PPL, Andrea Martin from PRS and all three Chief Executives from UK major record labels will be appearing next Tuesday - watch live here.

[Update: 1st February] The fourth witness session will start at 14.30 on Thursday 4th February with the following independent label representatives: Paul Pacifico (CEO, Association Of Independent Music), Rupert Skellett (general counsel, Beggars Group) and Yvette Griffith (co-CEO and executive director, Jazz Re:freshed) - watch live here.

[Update: 9th February] The fifth witness session will start at 14.00 on Wednesday 10th February. DCMS Committee will hear from online platforms that host user-generated content: Twitch, YouTube and Soundcloud. As well as witnesses from MPA, BPI, Ivors Academy and MU - watch live here.

The inquiry is seeking the perspectives of industry experts, artists and record labels as well as streaming platforms themselves and we would strongly urge artists to submit evidence. If you would like advice or support on submitting evidence, please contact us. The deadline for submitting is 18:00 on Monday 16th November, so please give as much notice as possible if you would like support.

Submit evidence here. The Ivors Academy have also provided a helpful guide to submitting evidence.

Here are some resources which provide some background information that will be very helpful to those who wish to understand more about streaming and how it works.

• CMU Setlist: Ten things people get wrong about streaming - part 1: Chris Cooke & Andy Malt (Podcast)

• CMU Setlist: Ten things people get wrong about streaming - part 2: Chris Cooke & Andy Malt (Podcast)

• Spotify Should Pay Musicians More? Let's Talk About How: Stuart Dredge (Article)

• Is Music Streaming Bad for Musicians? Problems of Evidence & Argument: David Hesmondalgh (Research)

• MMF - Dissecting The Digital Dollar: Chris Cooke (Book)

Please do contact us, if you would like any further information or support. Further details about the inquiry are available here. The terms of reference for the investigation are:

• What are the dominant business models of platforms that offer music streaming as a service

• Have new features associated with streaming platforms, such as algorithmic curation of music or company playlists, influenced consumer habits, tastes, etc?

• What has been the economic impact and long-term implications of streaming on the music industry, including for artists, record labels, record shops, etc?

• How can the Government protect the industry from knock-on effects, such as increased piracy of music? Does the UK need an equivalent of the Copyright Directive?

• Do alternative business models exist? How can policy favour more equitable business models?