Paul McCartney calls on MEPs to back music copyright law change

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Paul McCartney calls on MEPs to back music copyright law change
Rhian Daly
Jul 4, 2018


Paul McCartney

The Beatle has sent an open letter to European Parliament

Paul McCartney has called on MEPs to back proposed changes to music copyright law.

Members of European Parliament will vote on Thursday (July 5) whether to change the laws, which will require websites and apps, such as YouTube, who allow users to upload content to gain copyright licences for everything. The proposed changes have been criticised, with some aligning them with censorship.

McCartney, however, is on board with the changes, as seen in an open letter written to European Parliament. “Music and culture matter,” he wrote in it. “They are our heart and soul. But they don’t just happen: they demand the hard work of so many people. Importantly, music also creates jobs and economic growth and digital innovation across Europe.”

EU set to vote on 2 years of work on EU copyright directive. Over 1,000 recording artists - inc @PlacidoDomingo, @JamesBlunt, @cabrelfrancis, @Vienna_Phil, @udolindenberg & now the legend Sir @PaulMcCartney have called on their MEPs.

Vote YES (Tomorrow, 12pm CET) #ValueGap 🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/vE8adCNs4I

— IFPI (@IFPI_org) 4 de julio de 2018

He continued to explain that “the value gap jeopardises the music ecosystem.” “We need an internet that is fair and sustainable for all,” he said. “But today some User Upload Content platforms refuse to compensate artists and all music creators fairly for their work, while they exploit it for their own profit. The value gap is that gulf between the value these platforms derive from music and the value they pay creators.”

The Beatles star’s letter was shared on the Twitter page of the IFPI, who represent more than 1,300 record companies across the world. Read it in full above.




Meanwhile, McCartney recently confirmed the release of his next album, ‘Egypt Station’. The record will be released on September 7 and was produced by Greg Kurstin and Ryan Tedder. Two tracks have already been shared from the album – ‘Come On To Me’ and ‘I Don’t Know.’

The 76-year-old musician also discussed working with Kanye West on ‘FourFiveSeconds’, saying the rapper spent most of the time looking at pictures of Kim Kardashian.