Industry Transparency Code On Music Streaming Announced By Government

31st January 2024

The music industry has agreed a Code of Good Practice on Transparency in Music Streaming. 

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has today published the UK Code of Practice on Transparency in Music Streaming.

The Code is a significant point in the commitment by the UK music industry to improve transparency around licensing and royalties related to music streaming.

The Code was developed collectively by an expert group from the music industry and was chaired and facilitated by the Intellectual Property Office.

The Code will help build creators' confidence that they are being paid correctly when their music is played via streaming services
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has today published the UK Code of Good Practice on Transparency in Music Streaming.

The voluntary code has been developed and agreed by 12 music industry bodies representing music creators, record labels, publishers, digital service providers, distributors and collecting societies.

The agreement of this code is part of the commitment made by the government in response to the recommendations of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee's Inquiry into Music Streaming.

The IPO will have oversight of the Code and its implementation and will convene meetings of signatory organisations every six months to consider how the Code is working, with a formal review of the Code in 2026.

It sets out agreed standards of good practice, forming part of a shared ambition across the music industry to build greater trust in music-maker contracts, streaming licensing deals, royalty payments, usage data, audit rights, and communication to music creators.

This is part of the process to help improve creators' understanding of how their music is licensed, administered and used, helping build confidence and clarity that they are being paid correctly when their music is played via streaming services.

The Code is a pledge from the music industry to a race to the top on transparency and is the first such commitment of its kind in the world.

Viscount Camrose, Minister for AI and Intellectual Property, said, "From The Beatles and The Rolling Stones to Dua Lipa and Little Mix, the UK music scene is the envy of the world. In the last decade, the way that we consume our music has changed markedly, and that's why we’re taking steps to help ensure artists get the royalties and protections they deserve when their music is played on streaming platforms.

This pioneering code, designed by the music industry with government backing, has trust at its core. I’m delighted to see the UK leading the charge to ensure our peerless creative minds get the protections they deserve, as the way we listen to our favourite tracks continues to evolve.

Lucy Frazer, Culture Secretary, said, "For decades the UK music industry has projected our soft power to the world. Our home-grown artists make awe-inspiring music that brings in billions of pounds to the economy.

As technology continues to transform the industry, musicians must be entitled to a clear and simple way of understanding what they can expect to be paid from streaming royalties.

I welcome the music industry working together on this, and look forward to this code being put into practice.