New coalition marks A list artist rebellion against music industry

Non A list musicians have been complaining long and loud about the fact they rarely reap the rewards from recording and publishing done by the big labels, RIAA, ASCAP, BMI and the alphabet soup of crooks that control their works. Big music has found a bogeyman to blame in digital file sharing. While a problem, the fact remains that the industry has rarely been generous with artists, and always blames someone else for non payment going all the way back to the early days of radio.

A new coalition formed by quite a few A list performers may signal the end of the status quo.

It wants artists to keep the rights to the music they create and to have a greater say in how their songs are sold - and a bigger slice of the takings.

It is a sign of a shift in power in the music industry in the digital age.

In the last 12 months, big names have seen their options multiply after a string of stars shunned traditional record contracts and found new ways of releasing music.

At the same time, many acts have felt they have been ignored when their record labels and music publishers have struck new digital deals.

A spokesperson from the BPI - the body that represents the UK’s recorded music business - said it was “looking forward” to working with the coalition.

“The UK music business is a complex community that binds performers, songwriters, promoters, managers, agents, record labels, publishers, distributors, manufactures and retailers.

“No one part of the business can function without the other. This is a business under huge external pressure, and we are stronger united.

“The creators themselves - featured artists, session musicians and songwriters lie right at the heart of this business, and we look forward to working closely with FAC in the future.”

The Featured Artists’ Coalition’s main demands include allowing musicians to keep the copyright to their own music, which could then be leased to record companies. (BBC News)