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MPA Responds to Government Green Paper on the Future of the BBC
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Today, we submitted our written response to the Government’s Green Paper on the future of the BBC.
Representing over 180 music publishing companies, songwriters, and more than 95% of UK song rights, our message to the Government is clear: the foundation of the BBC’s music output is built on the talent and works of of brilliant creators and rightsholders, and their value must be protected.
Commenting on the submission, MPA CEO Paul Clements said:
“The BBC plays an essential role in the UK’s music ecosystem. From introducing new talent to sustaining the value of music through fair licensing, its impact reaches the entire creative economy. As the Government considers the future of the BBC, it is vital that the rights of songwriters and rightsholders remain protected. A sustainable BBC must mean fair and proper remuneration for the creators and rightsholders whose work underpins its musical output. This is represented in our response and is the central element of our ongoing engagement with the BBC and DCMS.”
The BBC is an irreplaceable pillar of the UK’s music economy, and the royalties it generates are a vital stabilising revenue stream for creators. Any changes to the BBC’s funding or commercial operations must not diminish the rights and protections that sustain our £1.7 billion music publishing sector.
Our submission focuses on five critical areas for the new Charter:
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Protecting the economic ecosystem: Ensuring fair remuneration remains at the heart of the BBC’s economic growth mandate, specifically protecting the value of mechanical rights as the BBC transitions towards a more digitised future.
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Ethical AI practice: Calling for the BBC to adopt our five key principles of AI practice, ensuring the BBC archive is never licensed for AI training without explicit consent of underlying copyright holders.
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Commercial accountability: Requiring BBC Studios to license content at fair market synchronisation rates, maintaining a strict distinction from domestic public service agreements.
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The R&D pipeline: Ring-fencing music discovery and the commissioning of new UK music to protect the next generation of talent including the role the BBC plays in the UK’s orchestral and choral traditions.
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Transparency and governance: Mandating distribution-ready metadata reporting so creators and rightsholders are paid accurately, and ensuring the BBC’s Board includes specific expertise to oversee a new IP sustainability remit.
The next Charter must protect human-centric intellectual property in the age of AI, and ensure the BBC remains a world-leading engine for our creative industries.
The Government is expected to respond to this consultation with a White Paper before the end of 2026.
We will continue to engage directly with the BBC and DCMS to ensure a future Charter that supports creators and rightsholders in a sustainable, fair, and collaborative way.
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