FAIR PLAY
FOR STREAMING
Restoring Justice for UK Musicians
WHY THIS CAMPAIGN MATTERS
In 2016, six out of the top ten orchestras streamed worldwide by Spotify and other platforms were UK based. In 2025 UK orchestras are still among the most streamed in the world.*
You may not know that in all that time, not one player has received a penny, while others profit handsomely from their performances on Spotify and other streaming platforms.
*
Monthly listens:
1. London Symphony Orchestra: 1,499,220
2. London Philharmonic Orchestra: 1,384,370
3. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra: 685,091
5. Academy of St. Martin in the Fields: 490,937
7. Philharmonia Orchestra: 333,509
9. Royal Scottish National Orchestra: 233,412
'My work is streamed by millions every day. I get £0'
Rachel's Story
Music streaming sucks if you're a non-featured artist like Rachel Bolt.
Unlike broadcast radio, non-featured artists make £0 from music streaming, while major labels pocket millions
Video by The Musicians' Union
EVERY SHARE TAKES US ONE STEP CLOSER TO OUR GOAL
When a radio station plays music performed by our orchestras, it must legally pay royalties to all the musicians involved. Unfortunately, UK law has not kept pace with technology and does not recognize streaming or on-demand radio as 'broadcasting' since these technologies emerged long after the law was created.
This means that the only people who do NOT benefit financially from the streaming of our orchestras' performances worldwide are the musicians themselves!
Professional musicians like Rachel in the video above, contribute to some of the UK's biggest hits, yet receive no royalties from streaming due to the UK's outdated laws.
Sign the petition to make a simple change to the 1988 Copyright, Designs and Patents Act for fair pay on streaming platforms.
This isn’t a radical demand. It’s about applying an existing legal principle fairly in a digital age.
Join the campaign to safeguard the future of the music we love.
Write to your MP!
The best way to achieve a change in the law is via our elected representatives.
Not sure what to say? We have provided template letters below; please feel free to download.
If you are a member of the public who feels strongly about this issue, please use this letter.
Liam Conlon © House of Commons
'Rachel’s music has been streamed billions of times on platforms like Spotify, but as an 'non-featured artist' she’s not entitled to any royalties. Instead, she just gets the studio fee of around £100 whilst the record companies make millions.
I’m proud to be working with Rachel and The Musicians’ Union, to call for a change in the law so streaming platforms count the same as radio when it comes to paying musicians royalties, so artists like Rachel are paid fairly for their work!'
Liam Conlon MP
Can we fix streaming?
Of course we can!
All we have to do is be willing to stand up and be counted. That’s the only way we’ll get the law changed and updated.
What has long been recognised as a fair deal for radio and TV broadcast must now be updated to include streaming and radio on demand.
Sign the UK Petition to show your support, and don't forget to fill in the form below to be kept in the loop.
Who are we?
Fair Play for Streaming is a grassroots campaign run by a group of highly experienced professional music makers and industry figures. We work alongside the Musicians’ Union, sharing the goals of fair and equitable pay for streaming and radio on demand, and of bringing the long-established legal principle of Equitable Remuneration for music makers into the digital age.
Naomi Pohl, General Secretary of the Musicians' Union, says:
'Musicians and music creators, as well as Musicians’ Unions globally, have been fighting for a fair deal from music streaming since it became a significant mode of music consumption. All musicians and music creators deserve a fair deal and royalties, regardless of contract terms that may have been agreed to when music sales were the norm. This includes non-featured performers, who currently receive no streaming royalties. Copyright reform is essential as we don’t see record labels or streaming platforms volunteering to change the distribution of revenue from streaming'
Horace Trubridge
Former General Secretary, Musicians' Union
Member, Royal Society of Musicians
'I am happy to put my name to this campaign as the unfairness that perpetuates in the music industry when it comes to the money all musicians receive from the digital exploitation of their recorded performance has to be addressed'
Peter Lale
Performer Director, PPL
Executive Committee, Musicians' Union
Recording and Broadcasting Committee, Musicians' Union.
'UK law already recognises a simple principle: when businesses make money from recorded music, the musicians who created it deserve to be paid.
Radio stations follow this rule. Streaming platforms don’t—despite making far more money from the same performances.
This isn’t a radical demand. It’s about applying an existing legal principle fairly in a digital age'
Paul Spong
Owner, Music Creation Ltd
Performer Director, PPL
40 years as a professional Trumpet player on recordings for artists such as Wham!, Elton John, George Michael, Wet Wet Wet, Robbie Williams, Beyoncé, Chris Rea, Eric Clapton, Rufus Wainwright, Terrence Trent D’Arby, The Stranglers, Joan Armatrading, Stormzy,
and Working Week.
Join Us!
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