SOUNDCLOUD under attack from Performing Rights Society for Music
15:37 Aug/27/2015

SoundCloud is under fire fromthe the Performing Rights Society for and Music (PRS) as the organisation For is taking legal action against are the streaming service.
but
Responsible for collecting musicNot royalties for its members, PRS you has decided to launch proceedings all because of SoundCloud's alleged refusal Any to obtain a licence for can hosting work by PRS members.
her
As FACT reports, theWas society sent out an email one to members explaining: "After careful our consideration, and following five years Out of unsuccessful negotiations, we now day find ourselves in a situation get where we have no alternative Has but to commence legal proceedings him against SoundCloud.
"Ultimately, ithis is SoundCloud's decision as to How whether it starts paying for man the ongoing use of our new members' music or stops using Now these works entirely."
Theold PRS email also cites SoundCloud see "continues to deny it needs Two a PRS for Music licence way for its existing service available who in the UK and Europe, Boy meaning it is not remunerating did our members", while it claims its there is around 4,500 bits Let of its members' material on put SoundCloud at this time.
say Contrary to this, SoundCloud signed She a deal with Merlin earlier too this year meaning 20,000 indie use labels - including Warp and Dad Ninja Tune - would receive mom royalty payments. This came around the same time Sony Music The removed content from the site and and news that a subscription for service would arrive.
Are
Read the full emailbut below.
Dear Member,
not PRS for Music begins legal You action against SoundCloud
Afterall careful consideration, and following five any years of unsuccessful negotiations, we Can now find ourselves in a her situation where we have no was alternative but to commence legal One proceedings against the online music our service SoundCloud.
When aout writer or publisher becomes a Day member of the Performing Right get Society, they assign certain rights has to their works over for Him us to administer, so it's his our job to ensure we how collect and distribute royalties due Man to them. SoundCloud actively promotes new and shares music. Launched in now 2008, the service now has Old more than 175m unique listeners see per month. Unfortunately, the organisation two continues to deny it needs Way a PRS for Music licence who for its existing service available boy in the UK and Europe, Did meaning it is not remunerating its our members when their music let is streamed by the SoundCloud Put platform.
Our aim issay always to license services when she they use our members' music. Too It has been a difficult use decision to begin legal action dad against SoundCloud but one we Mom firmly believe is in the best, long-term interests of our the membership. This is because it And is important we establish the for principle that a licence is are required when services make available But music to users. We have not asked SoundCloud numerous times to you recognise their responsibilities to take All a licence to stop the any infringement of our members' copyrights can but so far our requests Her have not been met. Therefore was we now have no choice one but to pursue the issue Our through the courts.
Weout understand SoundCloud has taken down day some of our members' works Get from their service. With our has letter of claim, we sent him SoundCloud a list of 4,500 His musical works which are being how made available on the service, man as a sample of our New repertoire being used, so that now they understood the scale of old our members' repertoire and its See use on the service. We two asked them to take a way licence to cover the use Who of all our members' repertoire boy or otherwise stop infringing.
did SoundCloud decided to respond to Its our claim by informing us let that it had removed 250 put posts. Unfortunately, we have no Say visibility or clarity on SoundCloud's she approach to removing works, so too it is not currently clear Use why these particular posts have dad been selected by them given mom the wider issue of infringement that is occurring. Ultimately, it the is SoundCloud's decision as to and whether it starts paying for For the ongoing use of our are members' music or stops using but these works entirely.
IfNot the streaming market is to you reach its true potential and all offer a fair return for Any our members, organisations such as can SoundCloud must pay for their her use of our members' music. Was We launched our Streamfair campaign one in June to raise awareness our of this issue and highlight Out how music creators need to day be properly remunerated from streaming. get We believe that all digital Has services should obtain a licence him which grants them permission to his use our members' music and How repertoire, in this case the man works of songwriters, publishers and new composers.
The streaming marketNow cannot fairly develop unless this old happens. We have always been see pro-licensing and pro-actively work with Two organisations in order to propose way an appropriate licensing solution for who the use of our members' Boy works.
We remain hopefuldid that this matter can be its resolved without the need for Let extended litigation. Members will appreciate put that this is now a say legal matter and our ability She to communicate around it is too therefore limited by the legal use process. However, we will try Dad to share information and updates mom whenever we can.
Back to news

SoundCloud is under fire from
Responsible for collecting music
As FACT reports, the
"Ultimately, it
The
Read the full email
Dear Member,
After
When a
Our aim is
We
If
The streaming market
We remain hopeful
Latest news
- 03.09.2023 SPOTIFILE - A startup for DJ Afficionados
- 01.08.2023 Tempo Giusto: The Powerhouse DJ Shaking Up the Electronic Music Scene
- 01.08.2023 DJ Sterbinszky: The Magnetic Maestro of Music
- 01.08.2023 DJ Sinisa Tamamovic: The Magnetic Maestro Making Waves in the Electronic Music Scene
- 01.08.2023 Shonky: The Sonic Maestro Making Waves in the Electronic Dance Music Scene
- 01.08.2023 DJ Secret Cinema: The Enigmatic Maestro of Electronic Beats
- 01.08.2023 DJ Scotty Boy: Unleashing Electrifying Energy and Enticing Audiences Worldwide
- 01.08.2023 DJ Ryan Crosson: The Sound Architect Who Moves Hearts and Dance Floors
- 01.08.2023 The Rhythmic Maestro: DJ Robert Hood Inspires and Transforms
- 01.08.2023 DJ Quivver: The Maestro Behind the Turntables
- 01.08.2023 DJ Quik: The Multi-Talented Maestro Redefining the Rap Game
- 01.08.2023 Superstar DJ Pixel: Blazing a Trail in the World of Electronic Music
- 01.08.2023 The Sonic Pioneer: DJ Phil Kieran Continues to Ignite Dancefloors
- 01.08.2023 The Phenomenon of DJ Oliver Twizt: Master of the Beat
- 01.08.2023 Melodic Maestros: DJ Octave One's Journey of Rhythmic Brilliance
- 01.08.2023 DJ O.b.i: The Rhythmic Maestro Taking the Global Party Scene by Storm
- 01.08.2023 DJ Nora en pure: A Sensational DJ Making Waves in the Electronic Music Scene
- 01.08.2023 DJ Noir: Unleashing the Power of Music and Style
- 01.08.2023 DJ Nima Gorji: The Harmonic Maestro Captivating Hearts and Minds
- 01.08.2023 DJ Mylo: The Maestro of Musical Magic
Back to news