British Songwriters Issue a Statement Against YouTube…

The British Academy of Songwriters has issued a statement supporting independent labels in their battle against YouTube’s music service contract. Last week, YouTube told uncooperative indie labels that if an agreement could not be reached, then content would be pulled.

BASCA ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR INDEPENDENT RECORD LABELS IN THEIR YOUTUBE NEGOTIATIONS CAMPAIGN

BASCA, the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors and home of The Ivors, is officially announcing its support and solidarity for WIN (Worldwide Independent Network who represent the interests of independent record labels worldwide), IMPALA (independent record labels in Europe) and AIM (independent record labels in the UK) in their campaign against Youtube’s deal making practices with independent labels.

BASCA firmly believes that negotiations between all parties should be fairly and transparently conducted. Youtube are imposing unfair contracting conditions on independent labels and they also insist collecting societies make contracts under nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) which mean that they cannot share with their own membership the rates achieved for their work. This prevents writers from being able to complain about the downturn in their income from some digital sources, a matter BASCA members are increasingly concerned about.

BASCA Chairman Simon Darlow, co-writer of Slave to the Rhythm (Grace Jones) and numerous hits for artists from Cliff Richard and Toyah, now a media composer of more than 130 TV themes including the Premier League anthem, BBC news channels, talkSPORT radio and shows for Chris Tarrant:

“BASCA is against NDAs which hide what appear to be poor streaming rates for songwriters and composers. We cannot afford to let these practices undermine the value of songwriting and composing and leave the music industry with a talent drain which will affect the UK both culturally and financially.”

Platinum award winning BASCA member Sharleen Spiteri, lead singer of Texas:

“Songwriters fully support independent record labels in their fight to get better terms and deals from Youtube. It’s about time we all made some noise about the way they negotiate with take-it-or-leave-it deals. It might be a little easier for writers like myself who also perform … but for those who do not and now have to rely on streaming income, the current rates are just not enough.”

BASCA member Barry Mason, winner of 5 Ivors and writer of dozens of international chart toppers such as Delilah (Tom Jones), Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) (Edison Lighthouse) and many others for David Essex, Rod Stewart, Petula Clark, Elvis Presley, Engelbert Humperdinck, Tony Christie and Barbra Streisand:

“Someone must be making money out of the music on YouTube but it certainly isn’t the people who write the songs … Delilah would need to be streamed roughly 113,250 times for Les Reed and I to earn enough for a coffee each at Starbucks.”

Grammy Award winning songwriter and BASCA member Victoria Horn, writer for many contemporary Worldwide artists including Dirty Vegas, Enrique Iglesias(feat. Kelis), Selena Gomez / Katy Perry, Armin Van Buuren, Demi Lovato, Tiesto and Rusko: