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United Kingdom announces industry progress on music streaming

Music streaming metadata is information which describes who contributed to a track’s creation, and how, such as who wrote a song, who performed on a recording, and who owns it.

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of the United Kingdom has published the UK Industry Agreement on Music Streaming Metadata.

Music streaming metadata is information which describes who contributed to a track’s creation, and how, such as who wrote a song, who performed on a recording, and who owns it.

"In the era of digital music, better quality metadata will support more accurate and timely payments for music creators from streaming," the IPO stated in a press release. 

The voluntary agreement sets out a positive commitment from players across the UK music streaming industry to progressively improve metadata in new recordings, and deliver consistent crediting on streaming services over a two-year period.

The voluntary industry metadata agreement includes:

-A shared ambition to progressively improve metadata in new recordings and consistent crediting on streaming services over a two-year period.

-Agreement to take steps to ensure a core data set is associated with all new recordings.

-Agreement to follow and promote good practice in industry.

-Agreement to establish and support expert working groups on education and technical solutions to drive forward further improvements during the two-year period.

In addition to the commitments on metadata, the UK Government will establish a working group to explore and consider industry-led actions on remuneration for existing and future creators, acknowledging recent progress by music companies in this space.

The Government will be discussing the formation of the group and terms of reference with industry stakeholders over the coming weeks, recognising the importance of a successful and globally competitive music industry, and the need to consider wider issues facing creators and industry alike, including artificial intelligence.

The working group will be composed of representatives and experts from across the music sector and will consider the research and progress already made in this area. This includes the research commissioned and published by the IPO on music creators’ earnings and copyright.

"Good quality metadata benefits everyone who creates and enjoys music. The agreement on metadata is a positive commitment by the music industry to improve the quality of metadata in the UK," said Viscount Camrose, Minister for AI and Intellectual Property of the United Kingdom.