In today's CMU Daily: When implementing the 2019 EU Copyright Directive, Belgium introduced a new performer ER right on streams, a move opposed through the Belgian courts by the labels and digital services. Judges have now referred the matter to the EU courts to clarify if the new right is compliant with European law

One Liners: New releases from Sasha Keable, Lady GaGa, Tommy Richman, Biig Piig, Nina Nesbitt, Van Morrison, The Weeknd, Playboi Carti, Alison Moyet + more

Also today: Apple has removed the free music app Musi from its App Store, possibly because of the intervention of YouTube; the major record companies and digital services have urged Canadian broadcasting regulator the CRTC to not extend radio rules to streaming

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Belgium's plan to give artists and session musicians direct streaming payments could be blocked by EU court

Plans to introduce a new streaming royalty for musicians in Belgium by extending the existing principle of performer equitable remuneration to streams have been derailed after the matter was referred to the European Court Of Justice, following legal action by both record labels and streaming services opposed to the new right.

The EU court has been asked thirteen questions about the introduction of a new non-transferable performer right, which was introduced in Belgium as part of the country’s implementation of the 2019 European Copyright Directive.

AEPO-ARTIS, which represents performer collecting societies across Europe, supports the right and says it is “disappointed” that “the Belgian Court did not reject the arguments of several multinationals that still see paying artists a fair remuneration to be a stain on their profitable business plans”.

Record labels - major and indie - are opposed to ER on streaming. In a statement earlier today, pan-European indie label trade group IMPALA says its members support the performer provisions in the 2019 copyright directive, but Belgium’s implementation of those provisions “introduced new rights beyond the scope of the EU rules”.

Its Executive Director Helen Smith adds, “we have been vocal about the reasons why the type of approach adopted by Belgium would be damaging”. To that end, she adds, “we believe the Belgian court is right to make a referral to the European Court Of Justice. We welcome this outcome and will be examining the judgement closely”.

Touring Coordinator – Europe // Allotment Productions SRL

UK Publicist // Cosa Nostra PR

The Music Works // Artistic Director

Account Director // DIABOLICAL

Senior PR Manager/Publicist // Infectious PR

Paid Media Manager // Playliveartist

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Horizon is CMU's weekly newsletter that brings you a hand-picked selection of early-stage career opportunities from across the music industry. Whether you're looking for your first job in music or you're ready to take a step up, Horizon is here to help you find your dream job faster.

👉 Click through to see the current selection.

Free music app removed from Apple App Store, seemingly after YouTube intervention

Musi, a free music app which pulls its content from YouTube, has been removed from Apple’s App Store. The music industry has been putting pressure on Apple to cut off access to Musi for some time, though it’s possible that an intervention from YouTube actually prompted the app’s removal from the iOS ecosystem.

A post from Musi’s support team on Reddit states, “The app is currently unavailable while we address some comments relating to the App Store. We don’t have an estimated time as to when it’ll be back but rest assured this has our top attention!”

Global record industry trade group IFPI has been calling for Musi to be removed from the App Store since at least summer 2023. As far as the labels are concerned, Musi is an unlicensed music service that is also circumventing YouTube’s technical protection measures, itself a violation of the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

Lawyers working for Musi have pushed back against those allegations, insisting that the app is simply facilitating access to music that is already available online, and adding that Musi itself doesn’t host any music content on its servers.

Streaming isn’t radio, the majors and DSPs tell Canadian regulator

The major record companies and streaming services have written an open letter urging Canadian broadcasting and telecoms regulator the CRTC to not extend content rules that currently apply to radio to streaming platforms as it implements Canada’s Online Streaming Act.

That legislation has already been criticised by the majors and services because it introduces the 5% streaming levy that is now being fought in the courts. However, the CRTC is now looking into implementing other elements of the act which, in the word’s of the Canadian government, aim to “ensure that Canadian stories and music are widely available on streaming platforms”. To that end, it recently ran some workshops involving industry representatives to inform a fuller consultation.

That has led Music Canada, representing the majors, and DiMA, speaking for the services, to publicly remind the CRTC that “radio and audio streaming are not the same”.

🌅 Horizon Future Leaders series - Cally Hamilton Q&A

As part of our new Horizon Future Leaders series of interviews, we are connecting with the music industry’s next generation of leaders to gather candid advice and insights into their career journeys.

This week, we caught up with Cally Hamilton, Sync Coordinator at Republic Of Sync.

From her early internship at Mr Bongo and starting a prominent club night during university to her current role at Republic Of Sync, Cally shares valuable insights into her day-to-day work, the importance of being proactive from the start, and navigating the ever-changing music landscape.

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