Indie labels team up to curate 'Fair Digital Deals Declaration'

After labels like Domino and XL expressed their anger at YouTube earlier this year over how the video streaming site paid its royalties to their artists, a huge number of independent labels have now come together to support a new declaration that is aimed at creating transparency over what musicians actually get paid.

After it emerged that indie labels were getting the raw end of the deal in terms of royalty payments, the 'Fair Digital Deals Declaration', overseen by the Worldwide Independent Network, “exists to support the independent music community through interaction with representative trade organisations and groups” to ensure that all artists, regardless of their labels, are paid equally.

4AD, Warp, XL, Domino, Ninja Tune, Mute, Brainfeeder, Sub Pop, Drag City, Merge, Jagjaguwar, Smalltown Supersound, Rough Trade, Moshi Moshi and many more are just some of the hundreds of labels already showing their support for the charter, which so far includes the following terms:

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.

The Worldwide Independent Network has also drawn up a ‘Global Independent Manifesto’, which highlights the inequality between major and independent labels when it comes to royalty shares, and states that payments “should be valued and remunerated at the same level as a major company copyright.”

For more information on this, visit the official WIN website here.

[Via FACT]

More News

Bloc Party return with new single 'Flirting Again'

Following the rousing response to their much-loved 'The High Life' EP last year, Bloc Party have now returned to share a brand new single. The new... 6 months 3 weeks ago

Dayglow announces self-titled album

Following on from his 2022 collection 'People In Motion', Dayglow has now announced his plans for a new studio album, arriving later this year.... 6 months 3 weeks ago

Porches delivers new single 'Itch'

With his eagerly-awaited new album landing in the coming months, Porches has now dropped the next cut to be lifted from his forthcoming full-length... 6 months 3 weeks ago

London Grammar share new single 'Into Gold'

With their eagerly-awaited new album set to arrive in the coming months, London Grammar have now dropped the next cut to be lifted from their... 6 months 3 weeks ago

Mura Masa collaborates with yeule on 'We Are Making Out'

After spending the last few months turning out a wealth of well-received offerings, Mura Masa has now returned once again to deliver a brand new... 6 months 3 weeks ago

One True Pairing unveils new single 'Be Strong'

After recently returning with his vibrant comeback singles 'Frozen Food Centre' and 'Mid-Life Crisis', One True Pairing is back once again with... 7 months 20 hours ago

Self Esteem collaborates with Moonchild Sanelly on 'Big Man'

Following on from her highly-praised 2021 studio album 'Prioritise Pleasure', Self Esteem has now returned to share a brand new single. The new... 7 months 22 hours ago

Fontaines D.C. share new single 'Favourite'

With their highly-anticipated new album set to arrive in the coming months, Fontaines D.C. have now dropped the next cut to be lifted from their... 7 months 1 day ago

The Japanese House returns with new single ':)'

Following on from her much-loved sophomore LP 'In The End It Always Does' last year, The Japanese House returns to deliver a brand new single. The... 7 months 2 days ago