Music

Industries such as film, television, music, publishing, and video games are increasingly important as part of the UK’s growing knowledge and creative economy, and such industries provide significant employment opportunities in the UK.

The music in a song, song lyrics and the recording of the song all usually attract copyright and other intellectual property (IP) rights that can be licensed in the UK and globally. IP rights and, in particular, copyright and associated rights are therefore key to the exploitation of the works that the music industry generates.

However, the internet and the ease with which data can be digitally transferred has profoundly altered the way people acquire and listen to music. YouTube and other online platforms have made it much easier to create, market and sell music. The digital age has also made it easier to stream or download content unlawfully—resulting in widespread copyright infringement.