12 September 2014

MEP’s debate with authors at Meet The Authors – Sept 24, Brussels

Against a backdrop of economic adversity, Europe’s cultural and creative sectors have remained a consistent and persistent driver of growth – expanding faster than the rest of the continent’s economy and accounting for a significant proportion of jobs and GDP.

Creativity also provides a catalyst for unity. As well as distinguishing each of the 28 member states and offering them a distinctive identify, there is a strong argument that culture helps defines us all as Europeans.

Certainly, policy-makers are increasingly recognising the value of Europe’s cultural output, and particularly so in a digital economy, with the potential for commerce to cross seamlessly across national borders. In recent years, a number of pan-European policy initiatives have been launched – in line with the Europe 2020 strategy for growth and jobs – intending to capitalise on our collective and competitive advantage in this area.

As a result, Meet The Authors is delighted to announce MEPs, Commission members and other key political figures who have confirmed for the September 24th event.

In the convivial atmosphere of the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the European Union, they will have an opportunity to hear first-hand about the issues faced by our sector, and debate directly with creators, CEOs of collective management societies and cultural business representatives – with further opportunity to network at our evening reception.

Starting with an opening address from Oli Rehn, Vice-President of the European Parliament (Finland) (TBC), other substantial political figures due to take part in the event include:

Michal Boni – Member of the European Parliament (EPP) (Poland)

Jean-Marie Cavada – Member of the European Parliament (ADLE) and Vice-Chair of the JURI Committee (France)

Mary Honeyball – Member of the European Parliament (S&D) (UK)

Eduard Kukan – Member of the European Parliament (EPP) (Slovakia)

Ernest Maragall – Member of the European Parliament (Green) (Spain)

Xavier Prats Monné – Director-general for Education and Culture of the European Commission (Spain)

Pavel Svoboda – Member of the European Parliament (EPP) (Czech Republic)

Paul Tang – Member of the European Parliament (S&D) (Netherlands)

Sabine Verheyen – Member of the European Parliament (EPP) (Germany)

Policies

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence brings about many new opportunities for our lives, including in the field of culture and creativity, but its applications also raise a number of ethical and legal questions due to their wide-spread uncontrolled and unchecked usage.

Policies

Music Streaming

Music streaming has unquestionably become the predominant means of enjoying music, replacing traditional physical media and expanded far beyond the live sector by providing user-friendly, high quality, and affordable access to the largest possible repertoire anytime, anywhere, online, or offline.

Songs and compositions are at the heart of this thriving market, which counts 524 million users on subscription-based music services globally, reaches more than 2 billion users including the streaming on UGC platforms, and offers more than 70 million tracks from approximately 8 million artists.

Yet, the authors and composers cannot benefit adequately from this success, and the debate over unfairness of this market is gaining traction across Europe and around the world.

There is a need to look more closely at how songwriters and composers are connected to this thriving economy and what can be done to improve their currently neglected situation.

Read below to find out more about the Music Streaming market.

Policies

Buy-out contracts: a dangerous threat to European creators

European music creators (composers, lyricists etc.) are being forced to forsake thousands of euros in future earnings by draconian ‘work made for hire’ (WMH) and buy-out contracts.

Online audiovisual services and broadcasters that are mainly US-based are forcing music creators to accept such contracts, which enforce a one-time payment in exchange for their rights.

Given the worldwide popularity of shows and series on platforms like Netflix, Amazon, Disney etc., and their replay value, the audiovisual market represents an important revenue stream for creators. Soundtracks alone are part and parcel of series and often attract a similar amount of popularity, massively boosting sales, streams and the worldwide fanbase of their authors.

Read below to find out how video on demand (VOD) platforms and broadcasters are circumventing EU law and what can be done about it.

Policies

Authors’ societies & the collective management model

Authors’ societies are hugely beneficial to both authors (creators), users (platforms and services), and the broader public.

Beyond benefiting these different groups, authors’ societies also support the broader cultural ecosystem by funding and promoting cultural and creative initiatives.

Below are five key benefits to authors’ societies and the collective management model.

Policies

The Copyright Directive

In April 2019, the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market was formally adopted, a change that will positively transform authors’ rights throughout the EU. Each member state now has until 7 June 2021 to transpose the Directive into their respective national law.

This reform is an opportunity to address pressing issues for authors in the Digital Single Market and will promote the growth of Europe’s creative and cultural industries (CCIs) – a major driver of Europe’s economy.

One of the biggest achievements of this new piece of legislation was to address the
‘Transfer of Value’ problem, a priority issue for all European creators.

Below are some of the Directive’s key areas that will affect creators and those who profit from their work.