700 Independent Labels Just Took Aim At The Majors

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700 Independent Labels Just Took Aim At The Majors

In a true sign of the indie spirit over 700 labels have joined forces for the ‘Fair Digital Deals Declaration’ in an effort to ensure artists are treated  and compensated fairly.

Of the 700 are some true heavy hitters with 4AD (Grimes, Zomby), Young Turks (The xx, John Talabot), Domino (Dan Deacon, Hot Chip), Brainfeeder (Lapalux, Mr Oizo, The Gaslamp Killer) and more coming together as part of an initiative driven by the Worldwide Independent Network.

The declaration features five important points that all signees must adhere to

1. Ensure that artists’ share of download and streaming revenues is clearly explained in recording agreements and royalty statements in reasonable summary form. 
2. Account to artists a good-faith pro-rata share of any revenues and other compensation from digital services that stem from the monetization of recordings but are not attributed to specific recordings or performances. 
3. Encourage better standards of information from digital services on the usage and monetization of music. 
4. Support artists who choose to oppose, including publicly, unauthorized uses of their music. 
5. Support the collective position of the global independent record company sector.

Billboard make special mention of point two in which majors often see favourable deals with digital services that don’t always see revenue earned passed onto the artists, something that the ‘Fair Digital Deals Declaration’ looks to right.

Part of the release was also the “Global Independent Manifesto”, which demands that independent labels “deserve equal market access and parity of terms with Universal, Sony and Warner, and an independent copyright should be valued and remunerated at the same level as a major company copyright.”

What does it all mean? Pressure on the majors to offer transparency to their artist about how, what and where revenue is earned. This and the same rights being offered to now a powerful group of independent labels who with their combined voice can change the way deals are done in the future.

Guess we’ll find out more when it’s launched officially tomorrow.

source: Pitchfork

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