Music body tries to deny industry rift
THE BODY representing the UK music business yesterday attempted to quash talk of an industry split over the government’s plans to disconnect people caught illegally downloading music.
The controversial issue has polarised the music industry, with some artists supporting business secretary Lord Mandelson’s proposals to disconnect persistent illegal filesharers, but others attacking them.
But UK Music – which aims to “represent the collective interest of the UK’s commercial music industry” – yesterday said that “government intervention is extremely welcome”.
“UK Music would like to clarify that all our members remain committed to supporting proposals that will benefit the future growth and sustainability of our commercial music industry,” the body said, ahead of the 29 September deadline for the consultation period on the proposals.
“We believe that Government intervention is extremely welcome and that, subject to assessment, Ofcom should be granted appropriate and proportionate powers as directed by the Secretary of State”.
UK Music chief executive Feargal Sharkey said that the industry was settled on a “common response” to be submitted to the consultation, but neither he nor the statement confirmed what this response would be.
The statement was issued in response to the rift that has been emerging over the past few weeks. The influential Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) – which includes Annie Lennox and Blur drummer Dave Rowntree – recently attacked Mandelson’s plans, calling them “grossly disproportionate”.
But major record labels, which have seen huge declines in profit due to illegal filesharing, have welcomed the prospect of intervention and alternatives to unlawful filesharing.
Singer Lilly Allen attacked the FAC position earlier this week in her blog, writing that file-sharing is “a disaster as it’s making it harder and harder for new acts to emerge” and is having a “dangerous effect on British music”.