Around the Net
Indie Labels Back Fair Digital Revenue Accounting
- Billboard, Wednesday, July 16, 2014 1:43 PM
Representatives of Domino, Cooking Vinyl, Epitaph, Because Music, Glassnote, Mushroom Group, Nettwerk, Ninja Tune, Secretly Canadian, Saddle Creek, Sub Pop, Tommy Boy, XL Recordings and the Beggars Group, representing 4AD, Matador and Rough Trade, are among the 700-plus signatories of the ‘Fair Digital Deals Declaration’ – a firm commitment from the global independent community to treat artists fairly in relation to the digital exploitation of recorded works with third parties.
When artists step forward and share personal stories about a digital revolution that has marginalized the value of their work and made it nearly impossible to earn a living, only then will the audience begin to understand the importance of their support.
A reasonable request, given the inspiration and joy that artists bring to peoples lives and the hypocrisy of singling out artists as unworthy of our support.
After all, artists are only asking the audience and technology to hold up their end of the bargain; give something back of equal value in exchange for an artist’s work.
Sincerely, Will Buckley, Founder FarePlay