Featured Artists Coalition Meets

by Robin Pilgrim, LawAndTax-News.com, London

12 March 2009

The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) held its first meeting in London on March 11 to mark what it said is a watershed in the music industry.

According to the FAC, the meeting signifies that, for the first time, artists have a collective voice to campaign for effective laws and regulations, and for transparent and equitable business practices.

The FAC says that it will fight to ensure that the interests of artists and fans are not compromised by under-the-table deals between multi-national corporations - particularly in the case of copyright infringement.

Run by featured artists, the FAC asks for fair remuneration in exchange for widespread access; from the industry it asks for transparency in exchange for cooperation towards renewal and growth; and from government it is seeking support in its efforts to achieve these goals in return for a nationwide education programme that offers advice and mentoring to young artists.

The FAC’s first board of directors are Blur’s David Rowntree, Soul II Soul’s Jazzie B, Billy Bragg, Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien, Kate Nash, Marillion’s Mark Kelly and Master Shortie. Further directors will apparently be appointed in due course.

As well as the directors, among the artists expected to attend the meeting were David Gray, Annie Lennox, Nick Mason, KT Tunstall and Robbie Williams.

Commenting on the event, David Rowntree remarked:

“The digital revolution has swept away the old music business of the 1960s, and changed forever the relationship between artists and fans. For companies who made their living sitting between the two, these are increasingly hard times, but for music makers and music fans this should be a fantastic opportunity."

“YouTube’s row with the PRS is the most recent example of just how fast the music industry is changing. There has never been a greater need for the collective voice of featured artists, whose music generates 95% of revenue in the industry, to be properly heard", he continued, adding:

“As this revolution gathers pace Featured Artists must seize the initiative. We are looking to forge a new deal, built on fairness, with our fans, the music industry and governments."

“To achieve this, we must own our future, take real control of our rights and genuinely work together. Acting alone, artists’ voices will not be heard. Acting together, we can be a powerful force. Our rights are our power."

Mr Rowntree concluded:

"By making ourselves heard and arguing for what’s fair, we can help reshape the industry for the future so that it serves the interests of those who want to make new music as well as those who want to hear new music.”

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