Many headlines have described the clash between the major labels and streaming services such as Spotify as the two sides hash out a deal for what the latter owes the former per stream. Less noticed has been the struggle of indie labels to get a fair share for their representatives, largely because users listen to indies far less than they do to majors. A collective of independents have gathered to make their collective voice heard however.
More than 750 labels have come together as part of the "Fair Digital Deals Declaration," coordinated by the Worldwide Independent Network. The group is pushing for their acts to get a cut of the revenues generated by streams of their music, of course, but it also aims to make streaming services responsible for providing clear explanations of how revenue is distributed, versus the murkier agreements that exist at the moment. The labels also hold themselves partially responsible for making sure their rosters get fed: The agreement notes that independents should make sure that performers under them receive a cut of "unattributed income," which consists of the fees streaming services pay to access the labels' catalogues.
The Worldwide Independent Network also published the Global Independent Manifesto, a document demanding that independent labels receive the same offers given to major labels. Last month YouTube revealed the contract behind its new subscription service, which offered a better cut to the bigger fish than the smaller. The site reportedly threatened to block the indies' videos if they refused to acquiesce.
Among those signing on to the Fair Digital Deals Declaration were Domino, Sub Pop and XL.
