On 31 August, a report by the CMU (Complete Music Update) was published entitled “Performer Payments from Streaming”.
The report addresses the minimal extent (if any) to which performers share in revenues generated through the exploitation of their performances via streaming services in the audio and audiovisual sectors. It also looks at the manner in which any payments are calculated and analyses the current business models and the roles played by various rightholders. It examines current commercial practices and different types of contracts that may be concluded, all in the context of market growth in both these sectors.
Among its findings was the statement that:
“With traditional broadcast – both TV and radio – copyright law in many countries has traditionally provided performers with royalties from the future exploitation of their work, oblivious of any contracts agreed with a copyright owner. However, with a few exceptions, this principle has not as yet been applied to streaming in most countries.”
It concludes that actors and non-featured performers generally receive nothing from streaming services and featured performers earn only between 5% and 8% on average of the revenue allocated to their recording.
The study in full is available here.
