12/09/2011

Music Copyright Extended

A new EU ruling has extended copyright on sound recordings from 50 to 70 years.

This means recordings such as Cliff Richard's Move It, Connie Francis's Who's Sorry Now and Andy William's Are You Sincere, which fell out of copyright in 2009, will now continue to earn money for the musicians involved.

The move has been warmly welcomed by the music industry; with the likes of presenter Jools Holland called declaring it "fantastic news."

Mr Holland also went on to say: "Artists put their hearts and souls into creating music and it is only fair that they are recompensed in line with the rest of Europe.

"It's important that creators get paid for the work they do and this extra 20 years is much deserved."

Abba star Bjorn Ulvaeus said the extension of copyright would give him control over the use of his songs.

"Now I won't have to see Abba being used in a TV commercial and the thousands of lesser known musicians around Europe who are enriching our life and culture can get the fair reward in return for their work that they deserve."

(JG/CD)

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