April 8, 2010 – BPI Chief Executive Geoff Taylor welcomed the passage into law today of the Digital Economy Act as a key milestone in the development of the internet, which will help secure Britain’s world-beating status as a creative force in music and entertainment.
Geoff Taylor said: “The Act’s measures to reduce illegal downloading will spur on investment in new music and innovation in legal business models. An internet that rewards taking creative risks will mean more British bands enjoying global success, more choice in how to access music online, and more jobs in our fast-growing creative sector.
“These measures will not eliminate all piracy, but they will go a long way towards reducing illegal freeloading and will help to build a more sustainable ecosystem for content on the internet.“
He continued: “We are acutely aware that music fans are at the heart of our business as it embraces the digital age. Hand-in-hand with the new measures, we will continue to expand the exciting range of legal services that offer vast catalogues of music to stream or download and which reward artists for their work. We will underpin this with industry initiatives, such as the recently launched Music Matters campaign, to raise awareness of these offerings with UK consumers.
“We will now work diligently with other stakeholders, including ISPs and Ofcom, to develop the Code of Practice that will bring the Act into effect.”
Tony Wadsworth, BPI Chairman said: “It has been a long hard slog. The Act is by no means perfect, but we should not for one second take for granted how far we have come in the last few years. We have got recognition that we need online protection if we are to continue to build the most dynamic music industry in the world. And we have got the law to recognise that internet service providers, who have benefited so much from creative content on the web, have a joint responsibility to ensure creators' rights are protected. This is a significant step in the transition of our business to the online world.”
ENDS
For further information on BPI
Please contact Adam Liversage on 020 7803 1326 / 0780 117 9032 or email adam.liversage@bpi.co.uk.
About BPI
The BPI is the representative voice of the UK recorded music business. We are a trade organisation funded by our members - which include the UK's four major record labels and hundreds of independent music companies. BPI members account for approximately 90% of all recorded music sold in the UK, and globally the UK's recorded music market is the third biggest.
The BPI also organises the annual BRIT Awards show as well as the Classical BRIT Awards show. The organising company BRIT Awards Limited, is a fully owned subsidiary of the BPI. Substantial proceeds from both shows go to the BRIT Trust, the charitable arm of the BPI that has donated almost £15m to charitable causes nationwide, since its foundation in 1989.