Pressing reset: reimagining performer and songwriter revenues in the contemporary music industry

In addition to growing calls in the UK for a ‘complete reset’ of the streaming economy, music industry organizations are re-evaluating how revenue from the public performance of music could be more effectively shared between different copyright owners. In this chapter, we outline how current industry practices significantly favour gatekeepers such as record companies and publishers at the expense of performers and songwriters. The chapter focuses on three key areas. First, we examine how revenues from music streaming are typically calculated and distributed, and consider some of the alternatives that have been proposed. Second, we explore the arguments for and against the introduction of performer equitable remuneration on streaming. Finally, we analyse issues around data management and the ‘black boxes’ of unallocated revenue that result from missing or inaccurate metadata.