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Initial EU Vote Favors Paying Music & Other Creators

By: PRLog
Historically progressive EU Parliament vote endorsing fair pay for online use of music is celebrated by Songwriters Guild of America and North American Music Creators
WASHINGTON - Sept. 13, 2018 - PRLog -- Today, songwriters and music creators around the world found their strongest ally yet in the fight to be paid for their creative works. Members of the European Parliament voted 438 to 226 to approve the EU Copyright Directive. According to the European Commission, the Directive is necessary to protect Europe's cultural heritage and create a level playing field between 'Big Digital'  platforms and creators, publishers, broadcasters and artists.

MCNA's co-chairs -- songwriter Rick Carnes and composer Marvin Dolgay -- celebrated the progressive vote by issuing this statement:

"This is a crucial step forward for the protection in Europe of the rights of North American music creators. It represents a landmark moment in one of the world's most influential music markets, and one that we hope will be implemented in the EU and spur similar legislation around the world."

The statement continued: "The preliminary vote by the EU (to be finalized in January) has paved the way for the creative sector finally to be paid when their works are exploited online. A clear signal has been sent to the powerful digital interests that have, for too long, built enormous wealth upon the unpaid use of the creative work of others.

In addition, the vote is a resounding commitment to the principles of transparency, fairness, equity and affordable access to justice that can improve the professional standing of those whose creative works are entrusted to others for management. Audiences in Europe should join in celebrating the fact that new legislation will be put in place that will promote the principle of fair and just reward to creators, and that it will no longer simply be corporations and distributors who profit from these creative works."

MCNA President, Eddie Schwartz, who also serves as President of the International Council for Music Creators, said today of the EU Parliament's vote:

"This is a critical moment in the future of music creators, and indeed all creative people in the EU and around the world. The EU Parliament has clearly shown the way towards not only a new dawn for reinvigorated cultural industries and individual creators, but also the equitable distribution of earnings in the flourishing digital economy. We trust this watershed vote will be endorsed in January 2019.  And we hope that future generations will see this as an historic moment, resulting from a newfound solidarity throughout the music creator community and the larger artistic communities as a whole."

Music Creators North America (MCNA) is an alliance of music creator organizations that represent the interests of songwriters and composers in the United States and Canada.  Each of MCNA's member organizations is run exclusively by and for music creators. As such, MCNA is the pure voice of North American music creators and, through its global alliances, a half-million songwriters and composers across the United States and around the world.  Its members include the Songwriters Guild of America (SGA), the Songwriters Association of Canada (SAC), the Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL), the Council of Music Creators (CMC), and the Screen Composers Guild of Canada (SCGC).

Media Contact
Laurie Stevens
marketing@songwritersguild.com
1-951-275-1000

Photos: (Click photo to enlarge)

Songwriters Guild of America Logo EU may require 'Big Digital' to pay songwriters and other creators Songwriters Guild of America President Rick Carnes

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