MPs call in top record labels Sony, Warner and Universal in music streaming inquiry

14 January 2021

Senior executives from Sony Music, Warner Music and Universal Music will face questions from the DCMS Committee in the third session of its inquiry into the economics of music streaming.

Benefits to major labels

MPs are expected to focus on the benefit to market-dominant labels from the production and licensing of streamed music, addressing underlying issues which have led to calls for a review of the distribution of streaming revenues in a more equitable way.

Licensing

The Committee will also examine licensing arrangements for song copyright with evidence from PRS for Music on collective licensing, and PPL which covers recording copyright for TV, radio and online broadcast but not streamed music.

Previous witnesses

Evidence sessions to date have heard from artists and performers about the impact of streaming, among them songwriter and producer Nile Rodgers in the second session, and Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien, Elbow front man Guy Garvey and soloist Nadine Shah at the first hearing.

In December, Committee Chair Julian Knight released a statement concerning potential witnesses who might be deterred from coming forward because of fears that action would be taken against them.

Witnesses

Tuesday 19 January 2021

Panel 1 at 10am:

Andrea Martin, CEO, PRS for Music
Peter Leathem, CEO, PPL UK (Phonographic Performance Limited)

Panel 2 at 10.45am:

David Joseph, Chairman and CEO, Universal Music UK & Ireland
Jason Iley, Chairman and CEO, Sony Music UK & Ireland
Tony Harlow, CEO, Warner Music UK

Futher information

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