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Europe has always been a continent of music-lovers. But the way we as consumers choose to enjoy music is changing – and everywhere you look there are efforts to adapt to this. Here’s a look at two key trends.

Music gone digital

The Internet has of course been a game-changer for the music sector. It all started with downloading, but since then the services on offer have mushroomed: consumers can now choose between subscription services, advertising-supported services offering streaming for no charge, music video services like You Tube and services backed by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that weave music subscriptions into broadband packages (the ISP Telia, for example, includes a Spotify subscription as part of its mobile package).

Music can now also be accessed across a range of devices, too, so fans can listen to the music they chose wherever they are. And thanks to social media functions attached to existing services, a virtual community of fans has been created that can recommend what they enjoy…and speak out about what they don’t.

Today there are more than 300 legitimate online music services in Europe, giving access to some 13 million tracks. From a whopping 70 services in the UK to a modest two in Cyprus, Malta and Luxembourg – there’s always a way for fans to access the music they love in a legal and equitable way.

The partnerships forged between industry and authors’ societies in Europe mean that innovation, enterprise and the protection of creators’ rights – the basis of musicians’ livelihoods – are compatible. Read what we said last week about some of these partnerships and how they benefit creators.

Unfortunately, there’s a sting to the Internet’s otherwise rosy tail.

Europe’s legitimate music business is held back by pirate sites that tap into the all-too-human yet unfortunate desire to have things for free. Offering comparable services to legitimate services but at no cost, pirate sites undermine the incentive for consumers to pay for the music they enjoy. This not only stifles the development of honest business ventures, it also undercuts the musicians trying to earn a decent wage by doing what they love to do.

Authors’ societies work tirelessly to enforce the rights of their members across Europe. But that’s not enough: the legal environment that allows piracy to thrive needs urgent attention.

Thanks for reading our first-ever post. Our site is a one-stop shop with everything you need to know about authors’ societies: who we are, what we do – and how we matter to you.

And you don’t need to just take our word for it.

Here you’ll also find a range of real testimonials from creators across the EU explaining just how important authors’ societies, and their work, are to them…and their work. We’ll keep adding more of these as we go along, so do keep coming back!

And we’ll be keeping you updated with compelling stories from authors’ societies across the EU, set to illustrate how our work has a real impact on the ground. For example, you can read about some of our award schemes designed to nurture and support up-and- coming young talent; new partnerships with industry leaders; special events….and more!

So stay tuned – we guarantee you an insightful adventure into author’s societies where you are and beyond.

A survey has revealed that Finns are ever-more supportive of authors’ societies, viewing them as essential to both Finnish culture and to authors themselves.

Here are a few of the survey’s highlights: