Minister of State for Culture: Streaming fairness to be addressed at round table

The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM), Wolfram Weimer, wants to bring the music industry and streaming providers together to discuss solutions for fair artist remuneration. In a platform economy, copyright must be strengthened, Weimer said at a meeting with music industry representatives on Thursday at the Chancellery in Berlin.

Weimer refers to a “cross-party congruence of interests” in the project. Considering new challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence (AI) or the fraudulent use of platforms, there is broad agreement on ensuring artist remuneration. Weimer's wish: The parties involved should develop their own solutions.

Weimer's predecessor, Claudia Roth (Greens), had already commissioned an extensive study to reveal problems. The participants argued intensely about the study's conclusions – for example, whether the big international artists receive too much of the remuneration pie or the others too little. What remained undisputed: A large proportion of artists earn little from the globally growing streaming market.

AI labeling problematic

Weimer expressed general openness to a labeling requirement for AI-generated music but also pointed out the problem of increasingly blurred lines: Many artists themselves use AI for their music creations.

Diversity and creativity must “receive their place and their monetization,” emphasized the Minister of State for Culture. Overall, the music market in Germany must be strengthened and grow. “The pie needs to get bigger,” agrees Florian Drücke, head of the Federal Music Industry Association (Bundesverband Musikindustrie, BVMI).

It is not the streaming platforms, but large and small labels that invest in artists, Drücke emphasized, criticizing that “the investments, the efforts, the creativity of others are being siphoned off.”

Verena Bößmann from the Association of Independent Music Companies (Verband unabhängige Musikunternehmer, VUT), which primarily represents smaller labels, also wants the remuneration models to be questioned. For fair and adequate remuneration, there should be “clear transparency requirements for the platforms,” said Bößmann. “Where do which numbers come from?”

Weimer wants a round table

Weimer will now meet with representatives of the platforms and streaming services next Monday. His goal is clear: instead of legal regulations, for which the Minister of State for Culture would not be responsible anyway, he is counting on an agreement among all parties involved. To this end, he intends to invite to a “round table” in the coming months, where musicians, labels, and platforms will jointly seek solutions.

(mho)