Can better royalty information make streaming fairer?

Introduction

The UK’s transparency code for music streaming was designed to answer a practical question: can creators be given a clearer view of how streaming money moves through the industry without rewriting copyright law or forcing a new royalty system? The resulting UK Voluntary Code of Good Practice on Transparency in Music Streaming, published by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) in 2024, is an attempt to improve information rather than directly redistribute income. It asks labels, publishers, distributors, collecting societies and streaming services to provide clearer explanations of contracts, royalties, usage data and audit rights. [GOV.UK]GOV.UKuk voluntary code of good practice on transparency in music streamingUK Voluntary Code of Good Practice on Transparency in…Jan 31, 2024 — Music industry voluntary code that is a commitment to standards o…

That distinction matters. Better information can help musicians, songwriters and producers understand what they are being paid and why. However, the code does not itself increase royalty rates, alter contractual revenue shares, or require companies to reveal every commercially sensitive deal. As a result, it occupies a middle ground between doing nothing and pursuing major legislative reform. [GOV.UK]GOV.UKindustry transparency code on music streaming announced by governmentIndustry Transparency Code on Music Streaming…Jan 31, 2024 — The voluntary code has been developed and agreed by 12 music industry bod…

Can better royalty information make streaming fairer?

The strongest argument for the transparency code is that many creators have long struggled to understand the route from a stream on a platform to the payment appearing on a royalty statement. Streaming revenue passes through a chain of licences, contracts, distributors, publishers, labels and collecting societies before reaching creators. Even when payments are technically correct, the process can be difficult to follow. [GOV.UK]GOV.UKgovernment's work on music streamingThe transparency work has also concluded, with the government publishing a UK industry code of practi…

The code therefore focuses on making information easier to access and understand. It aims to reduce situations in which creators receive statements but cannot determine:

• How royalties were calculated.
• Which recordings or compositions generated income.
• Which territories or streaming services were involved.
• What deductions, commissions or contractual terms affected payment.
• Whether they have audit rights and how those rights can be exercised. [GOV.UK]GOV.UKuk voluntary code of good practice on transparency in music streamingUK Voluntary Code of Good Practice on Transparency in…Jan 31, 2024 — Music industry voluntary code that is a commitment to standards o…

In theory, greater transparency allows creators to identify errors, question unusual payments and make more informed business decisions. It can also reduce disputes that arise simply because information is missing or presented in an inaccessible way. [GOV.UK]GOV.UKindustry transparency code on music streaming announced by governmentIndustry Transparency Code on Music Streaming…Jan 31, 2024 — The voluntary code has been developed and agreed by 12 music industry bod…

What creators need to know about payments

A notable feature of the code is that it treats transparency as more than the publication of raw numbers. Signatories committed to improving communication around contracts, royalty accounting and streaming data. The code covers six broad areas: contracting, supply-chain information, royalties, audits, licensing arrangements with digital service providers and communication with music makers. [GOV.UK]GOV.UKgovernment's work on music streamingThe transparency work has also concluded, with the government publishing a UK industry code of practi…

For creators, the practical implications include expectations that relevant organisations will provide clearer explanations of:

Publisher guidance issued after the code’s adoption illustrates the intended direction of travel. Songwriters and composers may be able to obtain more detailed information about streams, territories, services and royalty calculations than was previously provided as standard practice. Some publishers already provide reporting broken down by track, platform, payment model and country. [The Ivors Academy]ivorsacademy.comThe Ivors AcademyWhat the streaming transparency code means for…Aug 6, 2024 — This new code, which took effect on 31 st July 2024, inc…Published: July 2024

The goal is not merely more data but more intelligible data. A royalty statement that can be understood without specialist industry knowledge is considered a transparency improvement even if the payment itself remains unchanged. [GOV.UK]GOV.UKgovernment's work on music streamingThe transparency work has also concluded, with the government publishing a UK industry code of practi…

What the voluntary code asks industry bodies to provide

The code was negotiated among industry organisations representing creators, labels, publishers, distributors, collecting societies and digital service providers. Rather than imposing a statutory disclosure regime, it establishes minimum standards of good practice that member organisations are expected to follow. [GOV.UK]GOV.UKgovernment's work on music streamingThe transparency work has also concluded, with the government publishing a UK industry code of practi…

Among the areas where greater disclosure is encouraged are:

Contract transparency. Creators should have access to clearer explanations of contractual provisions that affect streaming income and rights. [GOV.UK]GOV.UKgovernment's work on music streamingThe transparency work has also concluded, with the government publishing a UK industry code of practi…

Royalty transparency. Organisations should help creators understand how payments are derived and reported. [GOV.UK]GOV.UKgovernment's work on music streamingThe transparency work has also concluded, with the government publishing a UK industry code of practi…

Supply-chain visibility. The code encourages clearer communication about the different entities involved in administering rights and processing revenue. [GOV.UK]GOV.UKgovernment's work on music streamingThe transparency work has also concluded, with the government publishing a UK industry code of practi…

Audit information. Creators should be able to understand whether audit rights exist and how they may be exercised. [GOV.UK]GOV.UKgovernment's work on music streamingThe transparency work has also concluded, with the government publishing a UK industry code of practi…

Communication standards. Signatories are expected to provide accessible channels for creators seeking clarification about payments or licensing arrangements. [GOV.UK]GOV.UKgovernment's work on music streamingThe transparency work has also concluded, with the government publishing a UK industry code of practi…

The IPO oversees implementation and is scheduled to review how the code operates, with formal review mechanisms built into the broader government process around music streaming reform. [GOV.UK]GOV.UKgovernment's work on music streamingThe transparency work has also concluded, with the government publishing a UK industry code of practi…

What the code cannot reveal

The transparency code’s limits are as important as its ambitions.

First, it does not require all commercial information to be disclosed. The code explicitly attempts to balance transparency with confidentiality, competition concerns and data-protection obligations. Some licensing terms, negotiated rates and commercially sensitive arrangements may therefore remain private. [Passle]mediawrites.twobirds.comPassle A Step Towards Fairness?The UK Voluntary Code of Good…May 14, 2024 —… UK Voluntary Code of Good Practice on Transparency in Music Streaming (the “Code”) on…Published: May 14, 2024

Second, it does not guarantee complete visibility into every deal between labels, publishers and streaming services. Creators may receive more information than before while still lacking access to certain confidential commercial arrangements. The code was designed to improve understanding, not eliminate all information asymmetries. [Passle]mediawrites.twobirds.comPassle A Step Towards Fairness?The UK Voluntary Code of Good…May 14, 2024 —… UK Voluntary Code of Good Practice on Transparency in Music Streaming (the “Code”) on…Published: May 14, 2024

Third, it cannot determine whether an underlying contract is fair. A creator might fully understand how a royalty has been calculated and still conclude that the contractual split is inadequate. Transparency can explain a payment; it cannot automatically justify it. [Featured Artists Coalition]thefac.orgFeatured Artists CoalitionIPO publishes UK Voluntary Code of Practice on…Feb 1, 2024 — The working group to discuss remuneration issue…

Finally, the code is voluntary. It does not create new statutory rights, alter copyright ownership, or automatically generate legal remedies if a creator believes streaming remuneration is too low. Its influence depends largely on industry compliance, oversight and reputational pressure. [Passle]mediawrites.twobirds.comPassle A Step Towards Fairness?The UK Voluntary Code of Good…May 14, 2024 —… UK Voluntary Code of Good Practice on Transparency in Music Streaming (the “Code”) on…Published: May 14, 2024

Why information alone does not settle fair-pay disputes

The central criticism of the transparency-first approach is that knowledge and remuneration are not the same thing.

Many campaigners who participated in the UK streaming debate argued that creators’ concerns were never solely about understanding statements. They were also about the size of payments, bargaining power in contracts and the distribution of streaming revenues across the industry. A creator may receive perfectly transparent reporting and still earn an amount they consider unsustainable. [Featured Artists Coalition]thefac.orgFeatured Artists CoalitionIPO publishes UK Voluntary Code of Practice on…Feb 1, 2024 — The working group to discuss remuneration issue…

This is why transparency reform and remuneration reform became separate policy tracks. The government supported work on metadata and transparency while also facilitating later discussions on creator remuneration. Subsequent debates over label-led remuneration principles reflected the recognition that clearer reporting alone would not resolve disputes over how streaming income should ultimately be shared. [UK Parliament]publications.parliament.ukUK Parliament Creator remunerationUK ParliamentCreator remuneration - Parliament (publications)1 Nov 2024 — The government welcomes the Select Committee's report on Creato… [hansard]hansard.parliament.ukCreator Remuneration From Music Streaming Label Led PrinciplesRemuneration from Music Streaming: Label-ledJul 22, 2025 — UK record companies have now agreed to a set of voluntary measures that aim to… The transparency code therefore addresses a specific problem: lack of information. It does not directly address another, distinct problem: whether creators receive a sufficiently large share of streaming revenue.

The practical value of a limited reform

Viewed narrowly, the transparency code is a modest intervention. It does not rewrite contracts, create new rights or mandate higher royalties. Viewed practically, however, it represents a significant shift in expectations about how information should flow through the streaming economy. [GOV.UK]GOV.UKgovernment's work on music streamingThe transparency work has also concluded, with the government publishing a UK industry code of practi…

Its success should therefore be measured against the question it was designed to answer. If creators gain clearer royalty statements, better explanations of licensing arrangements, easier access to usage information and stronger understanding of audit rights, the code may improve accountability and trust. If the objective is to resolve arguments over the fairness of streaming income itself, transparency can only provide part of the answer. [GOV.UK]GOV.UKgovernment's work on music streamingThe transparency work has also concluded, with the government publishing a UK industry code of practi… [GOV.UK]GOV.UKgovernment's work on music streamingThe transparency work has also concluded, with the government publishing a UK industry code of practi…

Amazon book picks

Further Reading

Books and field guides related to Can better royalty information make streaming fairer?. Use these as the next step if you want deeper reading beyond the article.

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All You Need to Know About the Music Business

By Donald S. Passman

Excellent foundation for understanding royalty statements and transparency.

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This Business of Music

By M. William Krasilovsky, Sidney Shemel

Explains contracts, audits and royalty accounting.

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Mood Machine

By Liz Pelly

Explores transparency concerns around streaming platforms.

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Streaming Culture

By David Arditi

First published 2021.

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Browse more on Amazon: All You Need to Know About the Music Business This Business of Music Mood Machine

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Endnotes

1. Source: GOV.UK
   Title: uk voluntary code of good practice on transparency in music streaming
   Link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-voluntary-code-of-good-practice-on-transparency-in-music-streaming
   Source snippet

   UK Voluntary Code of Good Practice on Transparency in...Jan 31, 2024 — Music industry voluntary code that is a commitment to standards o...

2. Source: GOV.UK
   Title: industry transparency code on music streaming announced by government
   Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/industry-transparency-code-on-music-streaming-announced-by-government
   Source snippet

   Industry Transparency Code on Music Streaming...Jan 31, 2024 — The voluntary code has been developed and agreed by 12 music industry bod...

3. Source: publications.parliament.uk
   Title: UK Parliament Creator remuneration
   Link: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cmselect/cmcumeds/293/report.html
   Source snippet

   UK ParliamentCreator remuneration - Parliament (publications)1 Nov 2024 — The government welcomes the Select Committee's report on Creato...

4. Source: hansard.parliament.uk
   Title: Creator Remuneration From Music Streaming Label Led Principles
   Link: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025-07-22/debates/25072227000013/CreatorRemunerationFromMusicStreamingLabel-LedPrinciples
   Source snippet

   Remuneration from Music Streaming: Label-ledJul 22, 2025 — UK record companies have now agreed to a set of voluntary measures that aim to...

5. Source: questions-statements.parliament.uk
   Link: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-07-22/hlws886
   Source snippet

   UK ParliamentCreator Remuneration from Music Streaming: Label-led...Jul 22, 2025 — The final issue addressed was the remuneration of cre...

6. Source: GOV.UK
   Link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-governments-work-on-music-streaming
   Source snippet

   government's work on music streamingThe transparency work has also concluded, with the government [publishing]({{ 'publishing/' | relative_url }}) a UK industry code of practi...

7. Source: committees.parliament.uk
   Link: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/45510/documents/225356/default/
   Source snippet

   remuneration: Government ResponseNov 1, 2024 — We recommend that the Government revisit the Creator Remuneration. Working Group's members...

8. Source: mediawrites.twobirds.com
   Title: Passle A Step Towards Fairness?
   Link: https://mediawrites.twobirds.com/post/102jax4/a-step-towards-fairness-the-uk-voluntary-code-of-good-practice-on-transparency-i
   Source snippet

   The UK Voluntary Code of Good...May 14, 2024 —... UK Voluntary Code of Good Practice on Transparency in Music Streaming (the “Code”) on...

   Published: May 14, 2024

9. Source: ivorsacademy.com
   Link: https://ivorsacademy.com/news/what-the-uks-code-on-transparency-in-music-streaming-means-for-songwriters-and-composers/
   Source snippet

   The Ivors AcademyWhat the streaming transparency code means for...Aug 6, 2024 — This new code, which took effect on 31 st July 2024, inc...

   Published: July 2024

10. Source: thefac.org
    Link: https://thefac.org/news-directory/transparencycode-24
    Source snippet

    Featured Artists CoalitionIPO publishes UK Voluntary Code of Practice on...Feb 1, 2024 — The working group to discuss remuneration issue...

11. Source: thefac.org
    Title: uk voluntary code of good practice
    Link: https://thefac.org/fac-guides-resources-directory/uk-voluntary-code-of-good-practice
    Source snippet

    The Code marks a step in the process which was...Read more...

12. Source: thefac.org
    Title: code of good practice
    Link: https://thefac.org/news-directory/code-of-good-practice
    Source snippet

    The voluntary UK Code of Good Practice on Transparency...1 Aug 2024 — The voluntary UK Code of Good Practice on Transparency in Music St...

Additional References

1. Source: brightslaw.com
   Link: https://www.brightslaw.com/site/library/legalnews/new_code_aims_boost_music_streaming_licensing_transparency.html
   Source snippet

   New Code Aims to Boost Music Streaming Licensing...The Code sets out agreed standards of good practice, to ensure greater levels of trus...

2. Source: musiciansunion.org.uk
   Link: https://musiciansunion.org.uk/news/music-streaming-transparency-code-announced-by-government
   Source snippet

   Music Streaming Transparency Code Announced by...The voluntary Code was developed and agreed by 12 music industry bodies representing mu...

3. Source: wiggin.co.uk
   Title: music streaming transparency uk government announces code of good practice
   Link: https://wiggin.co.uk/insight/music-streaming-transparency-uk-government-announces-code-of-good-practice/
   Source snippet

   UK Government announces Code of Good PracticeFeb 8, 2024 — On 31 January 2024, the UK Intellectual Property Office (“IPO”) published the...

   Published: January 2024

4. Source: omdia.tech.informa.com
   Title: uk code of practice on transparency in music streaming goes live
   Link: https://omdia.tech.informa.com/om123424/uk-code-of-practice-on-transparency-in-music-streaming-goes-live
   Source snippet

   code of practice on transparency in music streaming goes...6 Aug 2024 — A look at the new code of practice for music streaming in the UK...

5. Source: eraltd.org
   Title: statement on the voluntary music streaming transparency code
   Link: https://www.eraltd.org/statement-on-the-voluntary-music-streaming-transparency-code
   Source snippet

   Statement on the Voluntary Music Streaming Transparency...31 Jul 2024 — “Building a transparent relationship between creators and DSPs w...

6. Source: mpg.org.uk
   Title: industry transparency code on music streaming announced
   Link: https://mpg.org.uk/news/industry-transparency-code-on-music-streaming-announced/
   Source snippet

   Jan 31, 2024 — The MPG as part of The Council Of Music Makers welcomes the Transparency Code that has been agreed by the UK music industr...

7. Source: mpaonline.org.uk
   Link: https://mpaonline.org.uk/events/drop-in-sessions-voluntary-code/
   Source snippet

   d Practice on Transparency in Music Streaming to help improve transparency around...

8. Source: mpaonline.org.uk
   Title: new music industry transparency code goes live
   Link: https://mpaonline.org.uk/news/new-music-industry-transparency-code-goes-live/
   Source snippet

   Music Publishers AssociationNew Music Industry Transparency Code Goes Live31 Jul 2024 — This Code strikes an appropriate balance between...

9. Source: umusicpub.com
   Title: UK Voluntary Code of Good Practice.aspx
   Link: https://www.umusicpub.com/uk/UK-Voluntary-Code-of-Good-Practice.aspx
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   UK Voluntary Code of Good Practice on Transparency in...Jul 31, 2024 — The Voluntary Code is a framework for minimum standards for good...

10. Source: mpaonline.org.uk
    Title: Drop-in Sessions | Final Session!
    Link: https://mpaonline.org.uk/events/final-drop-in-sessions-uk-voluntary-code-of-good-practice-on-transparency-in-music-streaming/
    Source snippet

    UK Voluntary Code of...A Voluntary Code of Good Practice on Transparency in Music Streaming to help improve transparency around licensin...