Fair Digital Deals Declaration

The Fair Digital Deals Declaration was launched in July 16th by WIN, the worldwide network for the independent sector, with massive take up in Europe (over two thirds of the signatories at launch were European).  

The Fair Digital Deals Declaration is 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. 

In today’s music industry, digital services launch regularly, and existing services continue to launch new features. In recent years a pattern has emerged whereby large rights owners can secure huge lump sum payments, typically for equity, access, administration, ‘breakage’ and other non-attributable charges.  

The WIN Declaration makes it clear that signatory companies will share the benefits of dealing with digital services fairly and clearly with artists. This is to amplify our commitment to fairness and transparency, and to ensuring a sustainable economic relationship between the independent recorded music industry and the artists it partners with to bring their music to market.

There are 5 key points to the declaration as follows:

• We will ensure that artists’ share of download and streaming revenues is clearly explained in recording agreements and royalty statements in reasonable summary form.

• We will 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.

• We will encourage better standards of information from digital services on the usage and monetisation of music.

• We will support artists who choose to oppose, including publicly, unauthorised uses of their music.

• We will support the collective position of the global independent record company sector as outlined in the Global Independent Manifesto.

LINKS

Full text of the Fair Digital Deals Declaration

IMPALA – Independent Music Companies Association

Rue des Deux Eglises 37-39, 1000, Brussels, BELGIUM

+32 2 503 31 38

info@impalamusic.org