The former the Beatles star urges lawmakers to pass new legislation governing what bosses of free streaming sites pay artists.
- July 5, 2018
AceShowbiz - Paul McCartney has joined activists attempting to encourage lawmakers in Europe to pass new legislation governing what bosses of free streaming sites pay artists.
The former Beatles star has joined fellow artists, label heads and music industry executives, who are demanding action from regulators to address the so-called 'value gap' between free user-upload sites and subscription services.
In an open letter, published by IFPI, McCartney urges politicians to support the European Union's proposed copyright directive when they meet to vote on the matter in Strasbourg, France on 5 July.
"You hold in your hands the future of music here in Europe," he writes.
"Unfortunately, the value gap jeopardises the music ecosystem. We need an internet that is fair and sustainable for all. But today some user upload content platforms refuse to compensate artists and all music creators fairly for their work, while they exploit it for their own profit."
EU set to vote on 2 years of work on EU copyright directive. Over 1,000 recording artists - inc @PlacidoDomingo, @JamesBlunt, @cabrelfrancis, @Vienna_Phil, @udolindenberg & now the legend Sir @PaulMcCartney have called on their MEPs.
— IFPI (@IFPI_org) July 4, 2018
Vote YES (Tomorrow, 12pm CET) #ValueGap 🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/vE8adCNs4I
The copyright directive was approved by the European Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee last month, June 20, but still needs the support of leading lawmakers.
More than 1,200 recording artists and songwriters are urging Members of the European Parliament to fight for the reforms, which will force services like YouTube to obtain music licenses.
