Income Boost For Aus Artists As UK Law Changes Impact Neighbouring Rights

A significant shift in copyright law is being introduced in the UK, which is set to benefit Aussie artists.

Song Pact reports that the UK’s neighbouring rights royalties could lead to substantial new income for artists.

Neighbouring rights refer to the broadcast and public performance of music. Whether songs are played on the radio or in music venues, artists, performers, producers, and record labels are entitled to royalties from neighbouring rights.

Reports state that neighbouring rights royalties are usually split equally between the copyright owner—often the record label—and the remaining 50% goes to performers (the artists and session musicians).

Australian performers haven’t had a statutory right to ‘equitable remuneration’ (‘ER’)—the artist’s share of royalties—in the UK, and no reciprocal agreement between the UK’s PPL and our PPCA has existed since 2014.

Song Pact reports that from 2013, PPL stopped issuing ER payments to Australian artists for UK broadcasts. This policy change affected massive worldwide hits like Dance Monkey by Tones & I, I Can’t Lose You by Confidence Man, or Padam Padam by Kylie Minogue—they wouldn’t have received UK broadcast royalties.

That could all change soon.

The UK’s Intellectual Property Office recently proposed an amendment to the country’s copyright legislation to include foreign performers “under specific conditions,” such as the producer being based in the UK or another country involved in the Rome Convention.

Australian performers and producers will now be eligible for equitable remuneration from music played in the UK. However, British artists won’t see the same arrangement here—non-Australian artists, such as Ed Sheeran, won’t receive a cent from Australian broadcasts.

With a federal election on the way, however, who knows if Australia will see a new policy shift in copyright law?

Confidence Man recently got to #9 on the UK charts with their latest album, 3AM (LA LA LA). They’re currently touring the UK, with sold-out shows in London, Manchester and Glasgow.

Their Australian manager, Johann Ponniah of I OH YOU, recently told The Music that for Confidence Man, chart success is a bonus but not a priority.

“To them, it’s about making great records and great videos in a creative way, and if we do that correctly, we’ll bring more people into the project, and the charts will follow after that.”