Committees

Economics of music streaming

Inquiry

MPs will examine what economic impact music streaming is having on artists, record labels and the sustainability of the wider music industry.

With streaming currently accounting for more than half of the global music industry’s revenue, this inquiry will look at the business models operated by platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and Google Play. Music streaming in the UK brings in more than £1 billion in revenue with 114 billion music streams in the last year, however artists can be paid as little as 13% of the income generated.

The Committee will also consider whether the government should be taking action to protect the industry from piracy in the wake of steps taken by the EU on copyright and intellectual property rights. The inquiry is seeking the perspectives of industry experts, artists and record labels as well as streaming platforms themselves.

Read the key points in an interactive summary of the report.

Upcoming events

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Past events

Monday 22 March 2021
3:30pm Private
4:00pm Public
Economics of music streaming - Oral evidence 22 March 2021
4:00pm
  • Caroline Dinenage MP (Minister for Digital and Culture at Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
  • Amanda Solloway MP (Minister for Science, Research and Innovation at Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
  • Robert Specterman-Green (Director of Media and Creative Industries at Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
  • Tim Moss (Chief Executive at Intellectual Property Office)
Virtual meeting
Tuesday 23 February 2021
2:30pm Private
3:15pm Public
Economics of music streaming - Oral evidence 23 February 2021
3:15pm
  • Paul Firth (Director of International Music at Amazon)
  • Horacio Gutierrez (Head of Global Affairs and Chief Legal Officer at Spotify)
  • Elena Segal (Global Senior Director of Music Publishing at Apple Inc)
The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Wednesday 10 February 2021
2:00pm Private
2:30pm Public
Economics of music streaming - Oral evidence 10 February 2021
2:30pm
  • Roberto Neri (Chair at Music Publishers Association)
  • Geoff Taylor (Chief Executive at BPI)
4:00pm
  • Steve Bené (General Counsel at Twitch)
  • Raoul Chatterjee (Vice President for Content Partnerships at Soundcloud)
  • Katherine Oyama (Director, Government Affairs & Public Policy at YouTube)
3:15pm
  • Graham Davies (Chief Executive at Ivors Academy)
  • Horace Trubridge (General Secretary at Musicians’ Union)
Room 5, Palace of Westminster
Thursday 4 February 2021
2:00pm Private
2:30pm Public
Economics of music streaming - Oral evidence 4 February 2021
2:30pm
  • Yvette Griffith (Co-Chief Executive and Executive Director at Jazz Re:freshed)
  • Paul Pacifico (Chief Executive at Association of Independent Music)
  • Rupert Skellett (General Counsel at Beggars Group)
Virtual meeting

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