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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.

Work news

CMS Committee win Industry Champion Award for work on music streaming

CMS Committee win Industry Champion Award for work on music streaming

19 December 2023

Chair welcomes CMA’s urgent competition inquiry on music streaming

Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee chair comment

19 October 2021

DCMS Committee Chair welcomes CMA’s urgent competition inquiry on music streaming

Chair welcomes the decision by the CMA to carry out a full market study into music streaming and the dominance of the major music groups

19 October 2021

Government accepts key Committee recommendation to refer major music groups to Competition and Markets Authority

Economics of Music Streaming Report acknowledged as a ‘key moment for the music industry’

22 September 2021

MPs call for a ‘complete reset’ of music streaming to fairly reward performers and creators

Committee publishes report on Economics of music streaming.

Ministers to face MPs in music streaming inquiry

Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee questions DCMS Minister Caroline Dinenage and BEIS Minister Amanda Solloway on the economics of music streaming

Spotify, Apple and Amazon to face questions from MPs in music streaming inquiry

Committee to take evidence from Spotify, Amazon and Apple into their inquiry on Economics of music streaming

17 February 2021

Committee to question online platforms as part of their inquiry on the economics of music streaming

Online platforms YouTube, Twitch and SoundCloud to face questions from MPs

8 February 2021

Independent record sector questioned on impact of streaming

The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee will hear from Beggars Group, Jazz Re:freshed and AIM.

29 January 2021

Committee publishes industry-wide evidence in music streaming inquiry

Committee publishes over 150 pieces of written evidence on their inquiry, Economics of music streaming

21 January 2021

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

Committee to question major record labels as part of inquiry into the economics of music streaming

14 January 2021

Singer-songwriter Nile Rodgers to give evidence to MPs on impact of music streaming

Songwriter and producer Nile Rodgers gives evidence to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee on the impact of streaming

3 December 2020

Statement from Chair Julian Knight: Economics of music streaming inquiry

The committee has released a statement after hearing that potential witnesses are reluctant to speak in public and fear action may be taken against them.

1 December 2020

Radiohead and Elbow members to give evidence to MPs on the impact of streaming

Radiohead and Elbow members to give evidence to DCMS Committee on how music streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music impact them as musicians

20 November 2020

DCMS Committee examine impact of streaming on future of the music industry

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

15 October 2020

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Email: CommonsCMS@parliament.uk
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Address: CMS Committee, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA