Commenting on the lack of agreement on the proposed Term Directive at the European Union Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) in Brussels this morning, the leaders of the Musicians Union, PPL, BPI and AIM have released the following statement:
“The British music sector is very disappointed by the absence of agreement on an extension for performers and sound recording rights at the COREPER meeting today, and particularly that our own government, despite its recent positive statements, did not vote in favour of the proposal at this meeting.
“The UK music sector has lived up to its commitments by reaching an agreement, as demanded by Ministers, that will deliver real benefits to musicians in an extended term. In continuing to hold out for further changes, the government has not heeded the repeated pleas of the very musicians it claims to support, who strongly encouraged it to vote for the proposal today.
“We call on the government to work with us urgently to match its supportive rhetoric with concrete action, by moving heaven and earth to reach an agreement under this EU Presidency that will deliver an improved term of copyright for performers and music companies.”
Alison Wenham, Chief Executive, AIM
Geoff Taylor, Chief Executive, BPI
John Smith, General Secretary, Musicians Union
Fran Nevrkla, Chairman & Chief Executive, PPL
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