Indie Labels Sign Up To Fair Digital Deals Declaration

Over 750 independent labels have signed the Fair Digital Deals Declaration, an initiative from the Worldwide Independent Network (WIN) designed to ensure transparency in digital music contracts.

The document has been created to ensure that revenue is correctly distributed to artists as the music industry at large continues to move away from traditional formats and into a world dominated by streaming giants such as Spotify and YouTube and online stores like iTunes.

WIN describe it as a “statement of commitment made by independent record labels to treat their artists fairly in agreements relating to digital exploitation of artists’ work in recorded music agreements with third parties”.

To date, XL, 4AD, Domino, the Beggars Group, Epitaph, Matador, Wichita and [PIAS] are among the signees, with the declaration focused on five stated aims:

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 monetisation of recordings but are not attributed to specific recordings or performances. [Billboard’s take on this point is salient] 
3. Encourage better standards of information from digital services on the usage and monetisation of music.
4. Support artists who choose to oppose, including publicly, unauthorised uses of their music.
5. Support the collective position of the global independent record company sector as outlined in the Global Independent Manifesto.

For more information head here. 

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