Imagine a world where record labels and ISPs live in harmony, gently policing consumers who illegally share files not with lawsuits, but with friendly letters saying “Cheerio, you may not know that you’re sharing files ilegally. Here are some ways to figure out if maybe one of your kids is downloading music and to stop them from continuing to do so.”
The BPI, British Phonographic Industry, is taking a different tack than the RIAA in the US, one that uses less metal baseball bat, and more carrot cake. Going hard after illegal web sites and services based in Sweden, Russia and elsewhere, the BPI is much softer on consumers, and starts with education rather than lawsuites.
Staci Kramer, Co-Editor and EVP, ContentNext Media interviews Geoff Taylor, Chief Executive, The BPI
The BPI (formerly known as British Phonographic Industry) is the body that represents the British recorded music business.
Representing thousands of UK labels, it has over 400 members large and small, who between them account for in excess of 90% of the UK music market: these include the four major labels (EMI, Sony, Universal and Warner Music), music companies such as manufacturers, online aggregators and distributors, and hundreds of independents.
The BPI also organizes the annual BRITs show and the organizing company, BRIT Awards Limited, is a fully owned subsidiary of the BPI. Proceeds of the show go to The BRIT Trust, the charitable arm of the BPI that has donated almost £15m to charitable causes since its foundation in 1989.
Working for the British recorded music industry, the BPI’s work is divided into three key areas; protection, promotion, plus representation/ support.
1) Protection
Our members’ investment in new British music is based solely on their ability to commercially exploit the copyright in their recordings.
Although copyright law provides them with exclusive rights to do so, those rights often need protecting in law;
a) Commercial Music Piracy
The BPI’s anti-piracy unit is involved in hundreds of investigations and raids each year. In order to support the enforcement agencies involved in those raids the BPI supplied expert analysis and witnesses to bring cases.
b) Criminal Litigation
In sufficiently serious commercial piracy cases, the BPI sometimes brings criminal cases, sometimes with other rights owners. The BPI’s legal team brings these case on behalf of its members.
c) Civil Litigation
The BPI’s legal department also brings civil cases against commercial pirates, companies who have been engaged in copyright infringement cases, and in the case of peer-to-peer internet piracy – individuals responsible for distributing our members’ songs on illegally on the internet.
d) Online Anti-Piracy
In addition to civil cases against filesharers, our anti-piracy team are highly active in removing websites hosting infringing content and online auctions selling counterfeit CDs.
2) Promotion
The BPI also does much work in profiling British music at home and abroad.
a) The BRIT awards
The UK’s premier music show, is organised and run by the BPI and showcases the best in UK music at home an abroad.
b) The Official Charts
The BPI is a co-owner of The Official Charts Company with retailers’ association BARD. Far beyond being the official measure of the nations’ most popular song, the charts represent a major promotional vehicle for UK music.
c) Statistics
In addition to all the chart reports published by the BPI, it produces dozens of annual reports that serve to profile trends in consumer behaviour and more. The BPI also tracks trade sales and issues silver, gold and platinum certification awards.
d) International
Trade fairs and international promotions not only provide a useful service for the BPI’s members, but act as a focal point for promoting British music in overseas territories.
3) Representation & Support
The BPI’s membership comprises all four major labels plus hundreds of independent music companies – representing literally thousands of independent labels.
a) Committees & Council
Through its committees and council the BPI is regularly engaged with the industry it represents, proving a focal point for its members.
b) Policy Setting & Media Relations
Working alongside its committees, the BPI sets industry policy on key issues and regularly features in the media representing the industry and its members.
c) Lobbying
The BPI is a key lobbyist on behalf of the industry, engaging with the government to ensure BPI issues are heard and acted upon within government.
d) Collective Deals with third parties
While the BPI does not engage with the commercial operations of its individual members, or collectively license its members copyrights, it often draws up agreed terms with third parties such as the BBC, the MU and MCPS over the use of sound recordings.
e) Member Events
Events such as international trade fairs, educational networking seminars and its annual conference for members, the BPI helps bring new commercial opportunities to the attention of its members and provides a support service. It also attends other key events in the music calendar to help its members.
